Report: Relegation clause could derail Amanda Staveley’s Newcastle United takeover bid

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Amanda Staveley has reportedly made an official bid to buy Newcastle United.

Amanda Staveley has demanded that a relegation clause be included in her deal to buy Newcastle United, according to Sky Sports.

Sky Sports reports that the opening offer from Staveley’s PCP Partners has payment schedules linked to Newcastle’s on-field success.

The offer is understood by Sky Sports to be worth £300m, but Staveley wants compensating a significant sum if Newcastle are relegated from the Premier League this season.

Mike Ashley is unlikely to take that gamble despite Rafael Benitez’s side sitting 11th in the table and five points above the bottom three.

However, Sky Sports reports that Ashley would accept a £300m offer if it was paid over five years and did not include any performance-related clauses.

Benitez will hope that the takeover is sorted in time for the January transfer window so that funds are available for him to improve his squad.

The Magpies fell to a third successive defeat at Old Trafford on Saturday evening, losing 4-1 to Manchester United after Dwight Gayle had struck them into an early lead.