Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley struggles to find the right buyer shouldn't be a surprise.

That's according to Doug Harmer, the director of leading football club acquisitions company Oakwell Capital.

"I'm aware of specific parties that have shown an interest in Newcastle," he told ChronicleLive. "There have been some credible people who have looked at it, but these are difficult assets to transact.

"It's not just that it's played out in the press - clearly that hasn't helped - but there are other clubs out there that have probably been for sale for an equally long period of time. It's just you haven't heard about them.

"In many respects, I think that's been the key difference. This one has been public so people assume, 'Why hasn't it sold, it's been for sale since 2017?' I don't think that would be unusual for any Premier League club."