| Dr Dan Plumley, football finance experts from Sheffield Hallam, has spoken to media in the north east around Mike Ashley, Newcastle United’s owner, and his valuation of the club which he is trying to sell. Dr Plumley believes Ashley’s valuation is as much as double the actual value. Dr Plumley’s comments appeared in the Northern Echo, Sunderland Echo, Shields Gazette and The Mag, a Newcastle United fanzine. |
Magpies face January battle for Turkish transfer target
Newcastle United face a major battle if they opt to step up their interest in Cenk Tosun in January, with Besiktas officials claiming they have already fielded ten inquiries into the striker’s potential availability.
A senior Newcastle scouting delegation watched Tosun in action for Turkey during the international break, taking in a 3-0 defeat to Iceland as well as a 2-2 draw with Finland that saw the 26-year-old score both of his side’s goals.
The Magpies have been monitoring Tosun for more than 12 months, and with Rafael Benitez keen to strengthen his attacking ranks once the transfer window reopens in January, further scouting trips are anticipated.
It will not be easy to pull off a deal though, with a host of clubs also tracking the striker, who has been handed an €18m price tag by his current employers.
Tottenham also had scouts at both of Turkey’s matches this week, while Crystal Palace failed with an approach to Besiktas in the summer.
Tosun has scored five goals in 11 games for club and country so far this season, and his Turkish employers are anticipating a ferocious bidding war if they opt to sell at the turn of the year.
“He just keeps getting better, the more he scores the more confident he gets,” said Beskitas official Metin Albayrak. “He just keeps working and trying to improve. Right now, ten clubs are in direct talks with us.”
Benitez is still waiting to learn the size of his January transfer budget, and his spending power will be influenced by the extent to which takeover talks progress in the next couple of months.
Three overseas consortiums are now understood to have signed non-disclosure agreements with Newcastle, while Amanda Staveley has held preliminary discussions with the St James’ Park hierarchy on behalf of her PCP Capital Partners group.
Mike Ashley has reportedly dropped his asking price to around £380m, but a leading football finance expert still claims that is almost double what the club is actually worth.
Dr Daniel Plumley, a football finance expert at Sheffield Hallam University, claims Ashley will struggle to get anywhere close to what he is understood to be demanding for his 100 per cent stake.
Current brand value, based on factors such as league standing, revenue potential, fan base and global exposure, has Newcastle valued at around £190-200m. “This (Ashley’s price tag) is almost double that, so I would argue it’s a high asking price.
It’s probably also linked to what Mike Ashley has injected in with regards to his own funds and trying to recoup some of that, which is fair enough, but based on market brand values it might be tough to achieve that figure. – Dr Daniel Plumley, a football finance expert
Meanwhile, former Newcastle striker Leon Best is on trial at League One club Charlton Athletic, having been released from Ipswich Town at the end of last season.
