Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley could earn up to a staggering £17m even if the proposed sale to a Saudi Arabian consortium does not go through.
Speculation is growing that the club are on the verge of being sold, with the Amanda Staveley-led consortium reportedly on the verge of making the Magpies the richest club in the Premier League.
A number of attempts to buy the club have fallen through at the last minute in the past, so supporters are naturally tentative about celebrating the news.
But according to the Daily Mail the deposit paid by the consortium is non-refundable, which would appear to suggest they are highly confident about completing the £283m deal.
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