‘More leaks’ - Newcastle United ‘braced’ for further WhatsApp messages that could jeopardise takeover

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Newcastle United’s Saudi-backed takeover was thrown back into the spotlight when damning leaked messages emerged last week.

Football financial expert Stefan Borson believes Newcastle United will be worried about further controversial WhatsApp messages leaking regarding the Saudi-backed takeover.

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The Telegraph published exchanges between former co-owner Amanda Staveley and Mike Ashley’s close associate last week. In the conversation, the former co-owner revealed potentially contentious details about the deal.

One message shows Staveley namedrop Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman - suggesting the Saudi leader is “losing patience” with the stalled takeover. This raised controversy as the sale was green-lit - following an 18-month deadlock - once the Premier League had assurances over separation between PIF and the Saudi state.

More innocuous messages involved Staveley claiming she would enlist help from Geordie comedic duo Ant and Dec to get the deal over the line. However, monetary guru Borson has suggested Toon chiefs will be sweating about further leaks emerging.

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Staveley left the club in the summer and is poised for a football return but the revelation does raise doubt over Saudi involvement. He told Football Insider: “A problem Newcastle may have is whether these are the only leaks. The whole thing is quite odd anyway. Where have the leaks come from?  Who has leaked them and why? 

“What else do those people have? What else have they sent to The Telegraph? What else are The Telegraph sitting on? We don’t know. It’s unlikely that the only things that were sent to them were just this batch. It’s likely that they have got more. 

“If they drip feed those out, then you don’t know, it could be problematic. It’s not ideal. But the reality is if the situation is as they have undertaken to the Premier League, then there won’t be a problem.”

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