‘I’m hearing’ - PIF to ‘sell’ Newcastle United for controversial Premier League rival
Former Everton and Aston Villa CEO Keith Wyness has shared “rumours” suggesting the Public Investment Fund could sell Newcastle United - and buy Liverpool.
Ironically, a fixture between the two clubs in October 2017 is what first fuelled speculation about Mike Ashley’s exit. Amanda Staveley was at St James’ Park to watch the Magpies earn a 1-1 draw with Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Then interested in Liverpool, the Ripon-born businesswoman failed with two attempts to broker a deal for the Reds in 2008 and 2015. But Staveley, by her own admission, “fell in love” with Newcastle that day and would become co-owner four years later.
There has been talk about the 51-year-old returning to football, with Tottenham Hotspur a potential destination. As for PIF, the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund cemented further control on Tyneside in the summer, buying out Staveley’s minority shares to increase their stake to 85 per cent.
Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Newcastle’s chairman and the governor of PIF, attended the clash with Spurs earlier this month. Sporting director Paul Mitchell assured that the Middle Eastern backers - worth a cool £700billion - remain committed to the project.
However, ex-Toffees chief Wyness claims to have heard otherwise, with Liverpool a potential PIF target. UEFA regulations prohibit the same entity from directly controlling more than one club, meaning they would need to offload the Magpies to strike any deal at Anfield.
“PIF would have to sell Newcastle if they were to come in at Liverpool,” he told Football Insider. “But we’re a long way from seeing how that would play out. At the moment, there are lots of rumours that I’m hearing because they’ve got lots of money.
“When you have money, all these rumours fly. You’re either taking over golf, as they’re doing with LIV, or taking over all sorts of sports.”