Newcastle United in limbo as summer looms large
Posted on June 2nd, 2019 | No Comments |
A proposed £350 million by the Bin Zayed Group – fronted by Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nahayan – has been met with a mixture of delight and trepidation.
Fans are eager to see the back of owner Mike Ashley, but having seen previous takeover bids come to nothing it is understandable that cautionary noises are being made.
The Betfair review of next season would undoubtedly have Newcastle in the bottom half of the table if Ashley stays, but the landscape would change massive if new owners came on board.
Ashley’s failure to give manager Rafa Benitez assurances over the club’s transfer policy next season is an added and unwelcome layer to proceedings.
The Spaniard has worked wonders under the restrictions placed on him by Ashley and it is unlikely he would stick around if a takeover deal failed to materialise.
Valuable assets like midfielder, Sean Longstaff would be next in line to leave, as the club would undoubtedly continue its policy of balancing the book on its transfer dealings.
That mentality would most likely see Newcastle drift along in the lower reaches of the Premier League under Benitez, but whether they would stay there with a different manager is open for debate.
Many Newcastle fans believe that discussions about the club’s future are pointless while Ashley retains ownership of the club and it’s difficult to argue with their viewpoint.
Benitez has clearly reached a point where he knows he is banging his head against a brick wall where Ashley is concerned and he has zero chance of taking the club any further.
Transfer windows would remain a source of frustration, with supposedly smaller clubs actively seeking to improve their squad while Newcastle shop in the bargain bins.
However, new ownership and investment could be the catalyst for a much brighter future at St James’ Park and give the top football blogs something positive to write about for once.
The majority of fans are realistic enough to know that the likes of Lionel Messi wouldn’t be arriving in the North East, but moves for players like Gareth Bale or Andre Gomes could become a reality.
If Ashley stays, Newcastle should have enough about them to steer clear of relegation next season, but that would be the limit of their ambitions.
Should the Bin Zayed Group complete a takeover, things could be much different, with a challenge for a European spot not beyond the realms of possibility.
Newcastle fans will be praying that the situation is resolved soon and the result is something they can throw their weight behind next season.
NUFCBlog Author: Frankly Various
Frankly Various has written 67 articles on this blog.