LoveItIfWeBeatU

So there are supposedly at least 3 interested parties, BZG Group being one of them. What are the other 2 doing? Mike Ashley supposedly wants £350m. If the 3 interested parties know that have they offered that amount? If yes, then what is happening? If Mike Ashley is moving the goal posts then walk away. The loss of Rafa (plus his coaching team) and Perez should reduce the £350m valuation as relegation is currently much more likely. Also, if a group is struggling to come up with the £350m then they'll really struggle to fund the transfers, new manager and other changes required (the TV money is paid in installments throughout the year). I doubt the takeover will happen purely because of how long it has taken. Most takeovers seem to be done quickly. I was excited after BZG's first announcement when they said it was a done deal. Since then my hope has nosedived.

The Summer transfer window closes a month today (Thursday, August 8).

For a multi billion dollar entity BZG are odd. They have a terrible website and put 'official' statements out via a local radio presenter's Twitter account. Not exactly a confidence inspiring way of operating.

Perez was our top goal scorer 2 years running (and saw an upturn in good performances and form once he was supported by better players in Rondon and Almiron). He'll probably do even better in a team with better players. I'd be surprised if he wasn't a regular starter for Leicester.

That's right, it was Perez: - https://www.premierleague.com/news/1113417 Maybe they could change it to Colback?

Guess which NUFC player featured in the promotional photo for the friendly tournament in China.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-manager-takeover-news-16541810 The mood of the players not good enough for the Premiership is good now Rafa has gone. I know Chronicle writers are held in contempt here but they seem to have gone into overdrive since Rafa left spinning positive stories.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-search-manager-lee-charnley-16539902

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-news-live-promising-16534484

Ashley is reverting NUFC back to the pre-Rafa model of buying players and giving them to the 'head coach'. Their job is then to make the player impress so the player can then be sold on at a profit. We're back to being a stepping stone club. Do well at NUFC and you'll be sold on to a better club.

Fixed your post.

Around half the players in the pictures of returning players we'd probably thought would never play for the club again: - https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/galleries/in-pictures-players-arrive-for-pre-season-training-19-20/

https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/ayoze-perez-signs-for-leicester-city/ Cost £1.5m and sold for a possible £30m. I'm sure "everybody" (is that Ashley and Charnley?) at Newcastle United do wish him well. Perez has done exactly what they wanted of him. Generated a massive profit.

Ashley could very well cash in on players while their stock is high. NUFC will probably crash to relegation (it's a bonus for Ashley if NUFC don't get relegated) but will still get the £100m+ TV money. He'll then spend £50m to guarantee* promotion back to the Premiership. Also gets the parachute payments. This is his model for NUFC. *Promotion is far from guaranteed using this method. Ashley will think as it has worked twice he'll gamble it will happen a third time.

Charnley always seems to say a player costs NUFC e.g. £50m made up of a transfer fee of £20m, £5m for agents and signing on fees and £25m for wages over the 5 years of the contract. The trouble is, when that player is sold after 2 seasons (often for a profit) the 3 years saved on the player's wages seems to disappear from their budget calculation.

Well this talk of "off to Alavés" has died a death. Another fringe/outcast player who will get another chance to stake their claim for a first team place under the new manager?

No way the new manager will be getting £6m a year salary. That was Ashley pushing the boat out for a good manager. Ashley's switching from the "Good manager with low transfer budget" back to his "Cheap manager with average (TBC) budget" model.

Transfer fees are crazy these days. Some people need to catch up with that when they consider what is or isn't a good fee. £30m for a 25 year old forward with 2 years left on his contract, 5 years Premiership experience, who scores around 13 Premiership goals a season (in a limited side) is cheap. NUFC certainly won't be able to replace Perez with someone with similar stats for less than £30m.

Perez was our top goal scorer for the last 2 seasons. If some people didn't rate him wait until they see who takes his place.

Can't blame any player for wanting to leave. They know Ashley's NUFC won't pay the going rate for wages and the club aren't interested in trying to win silverware. Perez will no doubt be getting a big pay increase too. Good for him.

Haven't had time to read through the last 6 pages so sorry if already posted: - https://www.football365.com/news/hero-of-the-week-the-spanish-buddha-that-is-rafa-benitez

He says himself he didn't start taking his lifestyle and diet seriously until he returned to Switzerland. He was often injured at NUFC. He's very honest about his failings at NUFC.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/kevin-mbabu-learning-mistakes-relationship-16488511