Zuckerberg to bid for Newcastle? Another reason for Geordies to ‘Like’ Ashley sale

The multi-billionaire investor is known to be monitoring the Premier League...

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is keen to sell the Premier League club before Christmas – with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg a surprise contender to takeover.

The multi-billionaire investor is known to be monitoring the Premier League – a notorious cash cow – and Ashley’s sudden urgency to relinquish control at St James’ Park could prompt a bid from the American.

We make him the 14/1 third-favourite to become the next majority owner of Rafa Benitez’s men.

He’s behind only Robert Kraft (11/1) – who would be going from New England to Newcastle, as owner of NFL side Patritots – and Mikhail Prokhorov (also 11/1), a Russian politician.

US restaurant mogul Tilman Fertitta (17/1) follows Zuckerberg in the betting, as do Donald Trump (60/1) and Richard Branson (90/1).

Spokesman Paddy Power said: “Mike Ashley declaring that he intends to sell Newcastle was met by relief from their fans – and they’d surely Like a Facebook bid.

“After all, their club is perfectly set up for the ‘On This Day’ feature – with their biggest successes consigned to history.

“It’d certainly give rival fans an excuse to say that the Magpies Zuck.”

NEXT MAJORITY OWNER OF NEWCASTLE

11/1       Robert Kraft
11/1       Mikhail Prokhorov
14/1       Mark Zuckerberg
17/1       Tilman Fertitta
33/1       Mark Cuban
60/1       Donald Trump
60/1       Rupert Murdoch
90/1       Richard Branson
275/1     Elon Musk

Find the latest betting on NEXT MAJORITY OWNER OF NEWCASTLE UTD here