Newcastle United were interested in landing Southampton’s winger Mario Lemina but have pulled out of the deal. What might be the reason? Did they found someone better to pursuit? They don’t like the player anymore? Lemina isn’t interested in changing clubs? None of the above. It’s because Mike Ashley, the club’s owner, is “worried” about the player being almost 28 years old.Since when is a 28-year-old player too old?!Mike Ashley has been on the move today. He’s gone from London to Newcastle Upon Tyne today and is now heading back down to London. (The same day a PIF/Saudi jet landed in London) #NUFC#NUFCTakeover pic.twitter.com/AFJSzMMBbK— KDNH95⚫️⚪️ (@N1U8F9C2) June 25, 2021 Newcastle supporters know what it’s really about. Ashley is not the kind of owner willing to pour money into the club to ensure new signings and progress. Instead, he turned many of the Magpies’ fans into his enemies by only signing free agents, cheap players and negotiating loan arrivals. This sort of business model shows a lack of ambition, which the supporters can’t live with.For the past year, Newcastle United were a target for the Saudi Public Investment Fund, the wealthy organization willing to buy the club off Ashley and turn it into a footballing superpower in the mould of Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain. However, the takeover was stopped in its tracks after a few Premier League officials objected to the deal.There is still hope that PIF could go through with the purchase of Newcastle United, and it’s why Ashley is reluctant to spend money on new players because he doesn’t even know if he’ll be there in the long run. That strategy cost the club in the transfer market before, and it’s likely to prove highly inadequate again.
Mario Lemina impressed last season while on loan at Fulham and had emerged as Newcastle’s desired target for their midfield as Arsenal have still to decide on Joe Willock. They were willing to discuss a player swap but Southampton have no interest in players that have been proposed in negotiations so far.Newcastle are also waiting on a decision from Arsenal over defender William Saliba. The 20-year-old will be allowed out on loan but Newcastle face competition from Lille.