Indians want quick Newcastle deal or will consider move for other clubs
The Indian company looking to buy into have told club owner Mike Ashley that they want complete control and a quick decision on their offer.
Ashley is believed to have held meetings with Anil Ambani, the head of Reliance Communications - India's biggest telecoms company - about investing in the club he paid £130m for 15 months ago.
RCom are ready to offer Ashley an escape route and a healthy profit, but they want quick answers and will consider other clubs if they do not get them.
Worried: Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan has striker problems
The £300m fee suggested last month appears to have lowered significantly and RCom and a second bidder, Profitable Group -a Singapore-based global investment company - are prepared to pay about £275m.
The Indians are leading the race but would like discussions to advance within the next 10 days.
They will begin due diligence, a procedure Ashley failed to undertake during his own bid for control, if given the green light. Ambani's wealth dwarfs even Ashley's own billionaire status.
The 49-year-old is listed as the sixth richest man in the world with a personal wealth of about £21billion.
Newcastle officials last night again dismissed talk of a possible takeover as the club prepare for the biggest signing of Ashley's tenure. Protracted talks have almost concluded over the £10m capture of Argentina defender Fabricio Coloccini from Deportivo la Coruna.
The 26-year-old said: 'I don't fear the Premier League. I love it and I watch it a lot. I will be a big hit.' Of more concern to manager Kevin Keegan is his lack of forwards. Only Alan Smith is fit and he has not scored a Barclays Premier League goal since 2005.
