NEWCASTLE UNITED's prospective Saudi takeover rumbles on.
The Premier League is yet to OK the £300million takeover, which is being spearheaded by Saudi’s Public Investment Fund.
Follow ALL of the latest updates right here…
TAKE IT OR STEVE IT
Steve Bruce is increasingly desperate for a decision on the Newcastle verdict.
He said: “I need it, the club needs it & the fans need it. We need a decision.
“If it happens we’ll see what the change is.f it doesn’t we’ll try and prepare as best we possibly can for next season.”
KOUL ON HIS FUTURE
Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly, linked with Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle over the summer, admits his future is up in the air.
He told Gazzetta dello Sport: “In football, you never know what happens.
“I never spoke to Napoli about leaving. If we have to find a solution, we will find it, but I have never talked about the transfer market.
“I also read in the newspapers about my future. But I only want to think about playing,
“I am 100 per cent [committed to] Napoli and it bothers me to be linked, every day, to this or that European club.”
BEIN BAN ROCKS TAKEOVER TALK
FRESH doubts emerged over the Newcastle takeover after Saudi Arabia permanently banned beIN Sports from the country.
The Premier League is yet to OK the £300m takeover, which is being spearheaded by Saudi’s Public Investment Fund.
But if approved it means there will be no legitimate way to watch Prem football in a country whose sovereign wealth fund has just bought a club.
The Magpies have become embroiled in a bitter feud between the Gulf nation and Qatar that has threatened to derail the deal.
Qatar-based broadcaster beIN Sports – who own the Premier League rights in the Middle East – have fought tooth and nail to stop it on piracy grounds.
A deal between the PIF and Toon owner Mike Ashley was struck in April.
But it has been dogged by accusations that Saudi Arabia was behind the widespread illegal streaming of beIN Sports’ transmissions across the country.
BRUCE HAILS ROSE
Newcastle boss Steve Bruce says he will hold talks with Danny Rose's parent club Spurs about another deal for the left-back.
Ahead of Wednesday's clash between the two sides, Bruce said: “He is ineligible for tomorrow. He is Tottenham's player but in the next few weeks in particular we'll be looking and identifying players and seeing where we are.
“He's done very well for us and I'm very pleased with him so there will be conversations to have.”
KOREA IS A NEWC POWER
Martyn Williams, a researcher who monitors North Korean TV, has explained the league’s latest territorial breakthrough.
He told Pen News: “Liverpool and Man United seem to get more exposure.
“The last five games shown, for example, were: Liverpool v Man United, Man United v Norwich, Man City v Everton, Liverpool v Wolves, and Man City v Man United.
He added: “[It is] pretty much the only foreign content on air right now. This is interesting because it's a new window on the world for North Koreans.”
FOOTBALL'S COMMIE HOME
The Premier League has long succeeded in taking English football to some far-off lands, now including North Korea.
While citizens would be risking a death sentence to indulge in foreign films, there is now no punishment for catching an English top-flight match.
The separatist country’s communist leaders are said to have switched on the Premier League’s broadcasts late last year.
And North-West rivals Manchester United and Liverpool are making early strides as the region’s most popular teams.
COUT ME IN
Barcelona have reportedly offered Philippe Coutinho to Arsenal and Newcastle as they look to fund a move for Inter Milan star Lautaro Martinez.
Goal claims Brazilian flop Coutinho, 28, who was also linked wiht Chelsea, has no future at the Nou Camp after returning from an unsuccessful loan at Bayern Munich.
He has failed to replicate the form that saw Barca pay £110million to Liverpool in 2018.
And with Real Madrid set to reclaim the La Liga title, Catalan chiefs are ready to axe Coutinho as they eye a spending spree this summer.
Inter Milan striker Martinez, 22, is Barcelona’s top target after a move to re-sign Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain was ruled out.
And no less than NINE players are set to be sacrificed to bring in crucial transfer funds.
But the Gunners would struggle t finance the deal, while Newcastle are still sweating over their potential £300m Saudi takeover.
BRU UP A FIERCE BATTLE
Steve Bruce says Newcastle must match Spurs' workrate in tomorrow's home clash.
He said: “It (the reverse fixture) was the first game I ever won as Newcastle manager. It was a good day in a wonderful stadium and to beat Tottenham in their own back yard will always stay with me. Almost a year later we’ve got them at home so let’s hope we can repeat the performance.
“They've got a European place to play for and you could see what beating Arsenal meant to them. When you look at the team they've got, the manager they've got and everything that's in place you know they're a big club. We have to match their endeavour on the night.”
IN A BIT OF A JAM
Newcastle United will be without captain Jamaal Lascelles for tomorrow's match with Tottenham Hotspur, with the 26-year-old suffering with an ankle injury.
Isaac Hayden and Sean Longstaff are also unavailable with hamstring injuries – while Danny Rose is ineligible to face his parent club.
Boss Steve Bruce will make late assessments on attacking pair Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron.
OUT FOR THE COUT
Barcelona have offered out-of-favour playmaker Philippe Coutinho to Newcastle United and Arsenal, according to reports.
The LaLiga giants are desperate to fund a summer swoop for Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez.
And according to Goal, former Liverpool star Coutinho could be headed to the Premier League, with the Gunners and Magpies mulling over the situation.
MATT-ER OF FACT
Steve Bruce has shot down theories that he isn't giving Matty Longstaff more minutes because of his contract situation.
The Magpies boss said: “This debate that I’m not putting Matty in the team simply because of his contract, it’s not true.
“We’d all like Matty to stay and get things resolved, but the ball’s in his court. But I’m certainly not picking a team with that in mind. I gave the kid his debut. He’s had a thigh injury, unfortunately, when he came back from lockdown, which was a pretty severe one.
“I’ve treated him the way it should be. We’ve made him a huge offer, it’s up to the boy to commit himself. I’m not not picking him because he hasn’t signed a contract. We think a lot of Matty.”
ROSE AMONG THORNS
Steve Bruce has spoken about loanee Danny Rose, ahead of tomorrow's clash with the England international's parent club Spurs tomorrow.
He said: “He is ineligible for tomorrow. He is Tottenham's player but in the next few weeks in particular we'll be looking and identifying players and seeing where we are.
“He's done very well for us and I'm very pleased with him so there will be conversations to have.”
SPURRED ON
Steve Bruce has spoken to the media ahead of the Magpies' home clash with Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow.
He said: “It (the reverse fixture) was the first game I ever won as Newcastle manager. It was a good day in a wonderful stadium and to beat Tottenham in their own back yard will always stay with me. Almost a year later we’ve got them at home so let’s hope we can repeat the performance.
“They've got a European place to play for and you could see what beating Arsenal meant to them. When you look at the team they've got, the manager they've got and everything that's in place you know they're a big club. We have to match their endeavour on the night.”
FAN-TASTIC
The Government will allow fans to return to Premier League games from the beginning of next season, according to reports.
Prem clubs have reportedly already started consulting with supporter groups to prepare for a “partial return” but after the latest coronavirus update from the Government, fans could be forced to wear face masks if they wish to attend.
The EFL were set to hold trial matches which would have seen a small number of fans in attendance on the last day of this season.
But they have been cancelled.
However, the Football League as well as England's top flight are working on a method to admit fans at the start of next season, according to the Mail.
KEYS TO THE CASTLE
Newcastle United's takeover saga has rumbled on for four months now.
The Premier League are still assessing as to whether the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund are suitable owners for a club under its jurisdiction.
But one man confident that the deal with go through is Richard Keys.
He tweeted: “Any day now the PL will nod through the Saudi bid for Newcastle. This is not for the Newcastle Chronicle because they promised some time ago not to quote me – but I’m told it’ll happen Friday.”
MORNING NEWCASTLE FANS
The Telegraph's North East correspondent Luke Edwards says the Magpies will have new owners soon.
Confirmation has still not been announced of the Saudi Arabia-backed consortium's takeover of the club.
Edwards tweeted: “Despite all of the tedious arguments this season we should remember one thing, nufc will have new owners soon.
“Ashley will be gone and the biggest single reason for the club’s woes for more than a decade will be gone.”
Newcastle United are set to rival Manchester United for Fiorentina winger Federico Chiesa, according to reports.
The 22-year-old has impressed at the Serie A giants since breaking into their first team back in 2016.
His impressive performances have earned him a regular place in Roberto Mancini's Italy squad – as well as admiring glances from Old Trafford.
But according to La Nazione, Newcastle are considering a club-record £53.7million move for La Viola's No25.
And finally, Jamaal Lascelles raged at his team-mates for letting Manchester City romp to a 5-0 win over the weekend.
The Magpies captain said: “In the Premier League you can’t be gifting goals like that. It was a lack of concentration that cost us. Every game we play we want to win.
“To be honest, I thought we had bounced back from Man City. But the mistakes cost us and we just have to get it right for the next game.”
COVID TESTING
The Premier League have released a statement after the 13th round of coronavirus testing.
Thye said: “The Premier League can today confirm that between Monday July 6 and Sunday July 12, 2,071 players and club staff were tested for COVID-19. Of these, one person has tested positive. “The Premier League is providing this aggregated information for the purposes of competition integrity and transparency.
“No specific details as to clubs or individuals will be provided by the League and results will be made public after each round of testing.”
SPURRED ON
LOSS OF EARNINGS
Premier League clubs are set to lose out on some big money by the end of this season with no fans in the stadiums.
Here is how the losses break down for every club.
CAUGHT IN A JAM
Jamaal Lascelles raged at his team-mates for letting Manchester City romp to a 5-0 win over the weekend.
The Magpies captain said: “In the Premier League you can’t be gifting goals like that.
“It was a lack of concentration that cost us…
“Every game we play we want to win.
“To be honest, I thought we had bounced back from Man City.
“But the mistakes cost us and we just have to get it right for the next game.”
ICYMI – CALL THE FEDS
Newcastle United are set to rival Manchester United for Fiorentina winger Federico Chiesa, according to reports.
The 22-year-old has impressed at the Serie A giants since breaking into their first team back in 2016.
His impressive performances have earned him a regular place in Roberto Mancini's Italy squad – as well as admiring glances from Old Trafford.
But according to La Nazione, Newcastle are considering a club-record £53.7million move for La Viola's No25.
The move, however, is likely to hinge on whether the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund's controversial £300m takeover from Mike Ashley is ratified by the Premier League.
The Magpies' current record-buy is two-goal striker Joelinton – a £40m buy from Hoffenheim last summer.
NEW OWNERS SOON
The Telegraph's North East correspondent Luke Edwards says the Magpies will have new owners soon.
Confirmation has still not been announced of the Saudi Arabia-backed consortium's takeover of the club.
But news appears to be imminent.
MORNING NEWCASTLE FANS
Magpies target Kalidou Koulibaly has opened up about his future.
He told Gazzetta dello Sport: “In football, you never know what happens.
“I never spoke to Napoli about leaving. If we have to find a solution, we will find it, but I have never talked about the transfer market.
“I also read in the newspapers about my future. But I only want to think about playing, I am 100 percent [committed to] Napoli and it bothers me to be linked, every day, to this or that European club.”
In other news, Newcastle and Spurs are both closely monitoring the situation of Lille midfielder Jonathan Ikone.
French outlet Foot Sur 7 say both Prem clubs have spoken to the Ligue 1 side about the 22-year-old's availability.
He scored three times and provided six assists in the coronavirus-shortened season in France.
Ikone also played 62 minutes in his side's defeat at home to Chelsea in the Champions League group stages.
And finally, Newcastle journalist Lee Ryder has speculated that that the long delay in the club's Saudi takeover could spell bad news for fans.
TOON ARMY
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