Mike Ashley is the Premier League equivalent of Captain Rum – the seafarer from Blackadder who runs his ship in a contrary manner to “all the other captains” – though much as it must depress supporters to lose their leading scorer so soon after a popular manager, the bottom line in Ayoze Pérez’s move to Leicester stands up to scrutiny.
Newcastle’s owner knows more about trading than most – he has certainly made plenty of money through his grasp of markets and mark-ups – and, though critics might accuse him of caring for little else, it cannot be denied that raising £30m for a player who cost £1.5m five years ago is eye-catching.
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