Chinese interest in Newcastle

Mike Ashley is understood to be considering his options amid takeover interest

Newcastle United are of interest to a Chinese consortium for a potential takeover, Sky Sports News HQ understands.

Magpies owner Mike Ashley has received significant international investment interest in recent weeks, including one party from China.

It is understood Ashley, who has reportedly tried to sell the north-east club twice in the past, is now considering all options open to him.

Newcastle were promoted to the Premier League as Championship winners

Back in 2015, Ashley insisted he would not sell the club unless they had won a trophy or qualified for the Champions League.

He told Sky Sports: “We are now definitely going to win something and, by the way, I shan’t be selling until we do.

“[I won’t be selling] at any price. And by the way, when I say win something, if we ever get in a position of a Champions League place, that counts as winning something.”

Rafael Benitez is currently Newcastle manager and charged with keeping them up

The club were relegated to the Championship last summer and came up at the first time of asking, winning the Championship title by a point over Brighton.

Should the Chinese consortium successfully negotiate a takeover, they will become the second Chinese owners in the Premier League alongside those of West Brom, while the Chinese state owns a 13% stake in Manchester City.

Championship clubs Aston Villa, Birmingham City and Wolves also have Chinese owners.