Newcastle United owners consider £15m offer amid Amanda Staveley admission

Newcastle United’s owners are reportedly exploring the possibility of purchasing Belgian Pro League club KV Kortrijk as part of a multi-club model.

Speaking at the Financial Times’ Business of Football Summit in London in March, co-owner Amanda Staveley revealed the Magpies were looking at the multi-club model in order to enhance its global brand and boost player recruitment.

United’s Premier League rivals Manchester City have built one of the most successful multi-club networks in the world. Its City Football Group has the likes of Girona FC, New York City, Melbourne City, Lommel SK and Mumbai City FC in its portfolio.

“We’re looking at everything in terms of how we grow our brand, our club,” said Staveley, whose PCP Partners own 10 per-cent of Newcastle. “Opportunities to buy players affordably well early in the cycle are critical to our growth. We’re very focused on the academy and young players. We’re bringing some exciting guys in.

“Obviously we’ve looked at a multi-club but whenever you look at multi-club you’ve got to make sure you’ve got the right fit with the changes around GBE points at the moment. It’s important to do that.

“You also have to choose your territory correctly and make sure you’ve got the right chemistry. Remember, you’re working with another fanbase and another area. It’s critical you set out what your goals will be. It’s complicated.

“We’re also looking at another structure that would allow us to do both, maybe something that gives us more opportunity to work with a lot more clubs. That’s just quite an early stage. I think anybody who is looking to buy a club is going to be looking at that multi-club model.”

It was widely reported last month that a delegation from Newcastle visited KV Oostende, who were recently relegated from Belgium’s top-flight, to check out their stadium and training complex. And according to the Daily Star (via the Daily Express), Kortrijk are also under consideration.

Kortrijk are currently owned by Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan. The Malaysian businessman is said to have already rejected offers from Bournemouth and Burnley but will likely sell at £15m having bought the club for £4m, nine years ago.

Newcastle United are 80 per-cent owned by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia with RB Sports and Media making up the other 10 per-cent.

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