Mike Ashley remains confident of selling Newcastle United before the end of the summer.

The Guardian says Ashley remains optimistic about selling Newcastle United by the end of the summer and will resist the temptation to place the troubled Championship club in administration. Although Newcastle's owner is unpredictable and, in the football sphere at least, has a track record of about-faces, a source close to the club said administration was "the last thing" on Ashley's mind.

Indeed two "very serious" potential buyers are understood to have virtually completed exhaustive due diligence on Newcastle and would be in a position to seal a takeover in around two weeks were they to decide to proceed.