A consortium linked to Dubai Sports City last night emerged as
the front-runners to take over Newcastle.
The club's owner Mike Ashley is in Dubai with Dennis Wise and
Tony Jimenez, trying to attract buyers and Sportsmail understands they are in
talks with DSC, the world's first purpose-built sports city.
Dubai Sports City is a £4billion development and its backers
certainly have the finance to buy out Ashley, who publicly admitted
his desire to sell for the first time on Sunday.
The group are interested in adding a Premier League team to
their portfolio.
However, negotiations are at an early stage and Ashley has also
been in contact with a Chinese consortium.
Ashley bought the club for £133mllion 16 months ago and has
spent around £100million clearing debts.
A Middle East business website yesterday claimed he was in talks
with two investment groups linked to Dubai ruler Sheik Mohammed bin
Rashid al-Maktoum.
Zabeel Investments, owned by the sheik, were said to have been
offered the club for £480m, but his representatives denied the
report..