Floyd Mayweather Jr is reportedly interested in buying Newcastle United as the former pound-for-pound great eyes a stake in the club.

Mayweather hung up his gloves following his victory over Conor McGregor in 2017 having amassed a fortune running into the hundreds of millions.

And after what appeared an off-the-cuff comment at a recent Q&A with fans, his team later confirmed he is interested in the Premier League club.

During the event in Newcastle, Mayweather was asked: “You’re very, very interested in buying Newcastle United…?”

And he replied: “In the U.S. we call it soccer, but the Newcastle football team is an unbelievable team… a hell of a team.

If the people want me to buy the Newcastle team, let me know!”

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Predictably, there were cheers from a fanbase which has watched their side struggle under the stewardship of Mike Ashley.

Mayweather’s team then confirmed to TMZ that he is interested in investing but that no formal talks have taken place.

Newcastle, who lie 13th in the Premier League and have reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, have repeatedly been linked with a takeover.

Ashley is willing to sell but recent links with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have thus far come to nothing.

It is believed Newcastle’s owner will accept £300million for the club he purchased for £135m in 2007.

Ashley has overseen a relegation to the Championship and a number of disastrous managerial appointments, including Kevin Keegan, Alan Shearer and Joe Kinnear.

Steve Bruce is currently in charge at St James’ Park having taken over from fans’ favourite Rafa Benitez.