Time 'running out' for a takeover - but could this be the answer?
Peter Kenyon's takeover interest appears to be serious, but the one issue being mentioned in all the reports I'm reading is time. Will a deal be struck in time for him to arrive in January and back Rafa Benitez in what looks set to be a crucial window for the club?
It's an issue which, on the face of it, could leave a deal hanging in the balance, however there's a potential solution to this which could make a January takeover feasible for all parties.
As you can see in the tweet below, the Mail's North-East reporter Craig Hope said revealed this time last year that Ashley would fund January spending on the basis that he's refunded by the new owner once a buyout was complete. Yes, nothing came of Staveley's interest in the end, but could a similar approach be taken if Kenyon's potential late arrival in January threatened to call off a takeover?
One issue with this is the cost, with reimbursement of January spending AND a £300m takeover deal being a heavy hit for Kenyon and his backers to take financially - although I'd imagine they wouldn't be in any position to complete a takeover if they didn't have this sort of cash available to them?
Time will tell how it unfolds, with this purely being hypothetical, however it's a valid argument given this takeover looks set to spread into January - a month that is crucial for Benitez and the team, with reinforcements essential in our fight for survival.
A prime example would be Miguel Almiron - a big money deal that only looks possible if it's not Ashley's money that makes it happen.
