Newcastle United takeover lawyer takes aim at Richard Masters amid Chelsea deal claim

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Football lawyer Nick De Marco has taken aim at Premier League chief executive Richard Masters following his recent comments regarding the Chelsea takeover.

Owner Roman Abramovich is hoping to sell the Blues in quick fashion due to sanctions imposed on him by the UK Government in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Discussing the Chelsea takeover situation, Masters recently told Financial Times Business of Football Summit in London: "I think the quickest one we have ever done is 10 days but that's not to say that that record cannot be beaten. Normally it will take a number of weeks but that will depend on the complexity of the deal really and the number of potential owners.”

De Marco, a QC at Blackstone Chambers, acted for Newcastle United after the club’s takeover by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund was first blocked by the Premier League.

And he has taken issue with Chelsea being allowed to rush through a mega-money sale after Newcastle were forced to wait so long to oust Mike Ashley.

“The fastest a takeover can go through is 10 days according to the Premier League? Well I can tell