A British businesswoman has made a formal offer of around £300 million ($397 million, 338 million euros) for Premier League club Newcastle United, according to British media reports on Monday.

Several media outlets, including the BBC, said Amanda Staveley's financial firm PCP Capital Partners had made a bid to Newcastle owner Mike Ashley. Newcastle is yet to comment on the reports.

PCP Capital Partners is believed to have been in talks with Newcastle about a potential takeover for several weeks. Sportswear magnate Ashley announced he wanted to sell the club in October after 10 years in charge, having paid £134.4 million to buy Newcastle in 2007.

The 53-year-old Londoner has proved a divisive figure during his tenure, which has seen Newcastle twice relegated from the Premier League and then immediately promoted back.

Staveley, 44, helped broker Sheikh Mansour's purchase of Manchester City in 2008. She was spotted watching Newcastle's 1-1 draw with Liverpool at St James' Park last month. Newcastle was promoted from the Championship under Rafael Benitez last season. The northeast club regularly attracts crowds of over 50,000, but their supporters have not had a trophy to celebrate since the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup (the precursor to the UEFA Cup).