MIKE ASHLEY has tried to flog Newcastle to the company who want to buy Liverpool.

Toon owner Ashley’s people have approached a third-party financing firm called PCP in a bid to get Dubai Investment Capital to switch targets from Anfield to St James’ Park.

They were told Newcastle was available for £300million but word came back that DIC were not interested.

Despite the knockback it seems clear that Ashley wants out.

The multi-millionaire sportswear mogul bought the club last summer for £130m and took on debts of around £100m.

Ashley hoped bringing back Kevin Keegan as boss would give the club a boost but it has not worked.

His decision to appoint Dennis Wise as scouting director was also attacked.

An unnamed consortium, which is hoping to get Toon legend Alan Shearer as boss, are prepared to pay £250m for the club. But that is £50m below Ashley’s valuation.

A Toon insider told SunSport: “If Ashley is serious about selling there will be plenty of interest — but possibly not at the price.”

DIC are determined to buy Liverpool but Americans George Gillett and Tom Hicks have vowed to keep the club.