Newcastle United fans celebrate during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and ... [+] Manchester United at St. James Park CameraSport via Getty ImagesAs the weeks and months pass, the sale of Newcastle United by retail billionaire Mike Ashley to a consortium backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund looks increasingly at risk. A spokesperson from beIN Media Group told Forbes that as things stand, the Premier League would be selling Newcastle United to owners in a country that cannot legally sit down at home and watch Newcastle United play. However, since the coronavirus pandemic landed in March, Saudi Arabia is simply not as rich as it once was. The oil-rich nation’s economy has gone through some dramatic changes, the purchase of a vanity asset like Newcastle United might not be as high on the country’s agenda. Newcastle United and Mike Ashley have offered no comment at this stage in the negotiations.

Source: Forbes May 14, 2020 12:33 UTC