Kuwaiti could take control of the Toon as soon as next week

After failed attempts from Indian entrepreneur Anil Ambani, the Bin Laden family and numerous consortia, it seems that a Kuwaiti named Nasser Al-Kharafi (not ‘Masser’, as The Telegraph seems to believe) will soon drag Mike Ashley away from the bar long enough to thrash out the sale of Newcastle United.

Al-Kharafi, the world’s 48th richest man according to Forbes Magazine, is said to be close to agreeing a £300m price for the Magpies, and after studying the club’s finances could be set for a takeover as soon as next week.

Here’s what The Spoiler has been able to discover thus far about the middle eastern billionaire:

* Al-Kharafi is 64, and inherited most of his £9bn estimated net worth.
* Most of his money was made through a family construction company, but he also heads M.A. Kharafi & Sons, a private conglomerate with hundreds of subsidiaries and affiliates. It’s food division owns the middle eastern franchises for Pizza Hut, TGI Fridays, KFC, Wimpy and Krispy Kreme (is this what attracted Ashley?)
* He lives in Kuwait City, and is married with five children.
* He is neither a rotund drunk, nor a ‘cockney’.

Despite insisting on a much higher price a few months ago, it seems Ashley is now willing to accept a lower price for the club he paid around £134m for. Perhaps after losing a reported £1bn in the credit crisis, the much maligned businessman is ready to cut his losses.