Peter Kenyon, former head of Manchester United and Chelsea, takes control of Newcastle

Sky News may reveal that Kenyon has approached a number of potential lenders in recent weeks about the idea of ​​collaborating on an agreement.

Municipal sources said this weekend that he was working on an offer with Rockefeller Capital Management, a New York-based company led by Greg Fleming, one of Wall Street's most prominent personalities since his move to Merrill Lynch, then the wealth and assets of Morgan Stanley. management divisions.

Kenyon, who currently runs a sports consulting firm, Opto Advisers, reportedly said he had preliminary talks with Mr Ashley, managing director of Sports Direct, who bought Newcastle in 2007.

The value likely to be attached to Mr. Kenyon's offer was unclear on Saturday.

If successful, Mr. Kenyon would take a leadership role in managing the club, according to an informed source of his projects.

It is said that there is a significant opportunity to increase Newcastle's commercial revenue, the club enjoying a significant international audience as well as substantial and loyal support to St James & # 39; s Park.

However, any takeover is far from guaranteed and depends in part on Mr. Kenyon's desire to obtain financing commitments from investors.

In recent weeks he has approached a number of private equity firms, wealthy individuals and family offices, about the support of an offer for Newcastle, although the status of these discussions do not be clear this weekend.

Mr Kenyon has forged close ties with a number of Chinese investors in European football clubs, although it is unclear if any of the potential backers of his bid on Newcastle United would belong to the world's second largest economy.

He remains a credible figure in the world of football after leading two of the most successful teams in the English game.

After leaving Chelsea in 2009, Kenyon took over the leadership of the international sports division of Creative Artists Agency, the talent management group.

He resigned from CAA in 2011, since then he has played what his associates describe as a behind-the-scenes role in a number of important football deals.

Many Newcastle fans are desperate to change ownership, having seen their team relegated twice during Ashley's tenure.

Despite the official sale of the club, however, significant obstacles were encountered, including the asking price, estimated at £ 400 million, for the club.

Mr. Ashley, who recently orchestrated the acquisition of House of Fraser by Sports Direct after a few hours, put Newcastle on the market last October, stating that he hoped to find a buyer. here Christmas.

Since then, he has spoken with several bidders, including Amanda Staveley, the city's financier behind a vehicle called PCP Capital Partners.

The negotiations between Ashley and the PCP, which would have proposed a structured deal worth around £ 300 million, including deferred payments, were broken earlier this year.

It is unclear if Sports Direct's mogul is engaged in discussions with other potential buyers of the club.

The speculation renewed on the future property of the Magpies comes as discussions take place on potential buyouts from other leading clubs.

Allisher Usmanov, the Ukrainian mogul, recently sold his £ 600 million stake in Arsenal to another shareholder, Stan Kroenke.

Meanwhile, Roman Abramovich, the Russian owner of Chelsea, has explored options for his shareholding after withdrawing an application for renewal of his investor visa.

It is also thought that Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur could change hands in the coming months, with an influx of cash into broadcast rights from companies such as Sky Plc, owner of Sky News, fueling the company 's own. investor appetite to buy the best English clubs.

Mr. Kenyon could not be reached for commenting this weekend.