Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has left the door wide open for Peter Kenyon to grasp control at St James’ Park.
But the Magpies are still waiting for a satisfactory offer from the ex-Chelsea and Manchester United supremo.
Kenyon is still trying to raise the funds to complete a takeover on Tyneside and, despite hopes raised this week by the formation of two new companies linked with the 65-year-old, it has been business as usual at United.
Kenyon knows that a straightforward payment plan is on offer and Ashley’s advisors have made it clear it would be a quick deal for anybody who can provide the funds he is asking for.
Those funds are yet to arrive for Kenyon and Ashley is believed to be bored with fresh stories of a new bid.
It is believed that the asking price is still around the £300million mark but whether that will change in the coming months remains to be seen.
Newcastle’s brush with relegation is putting some interested groups off as they see the asking price as too high for a club flirting with the drop.
In turn, United may have to spend more in January to stave off the threat of relegation, something which may affect the price.
Steve Bruce’s position as head coach is safe for now but after getting into the building and examining the squad and youth set-up he is discovering some of the same concerns that Rafa Benitez had.
It is understood that Bruce is concerned by the lack of runners in midfield and the 5-0 hammering at Leicester once again exposed there are so few leaders when the chips are down.
Bruce will ask his scouts to find an energetic and creative central midfielder for January.
With Jonjo Shelvey injured and Isaac Hayden suspended he is worried that there is a lack of options in the middle and there are too many similar types of holding midfielders at Newcastle.
There will be money available to spend in January and providing Newcastle do not become marooned in the bottom three, Bruce will get time to turn things around.
