Newcastle’s links to world-class players have been muted over the past month as the takeover saga hit some snags with the Premier League.
Once the agreement between Mike Ashley and the Saudi-backed consortium was confirmed in April, it seemed a superstar was linked with a move to Newcastle every other day.
That has been significantly tempered lately while the Premier League gives little indication of the outcome of their owners’ and director’s tests. A process that has now lingered over many months.
One player that was consistently linked to Newcastle under the prospective new owners was Barcelona playmaker Philippe Coutinho. With claims ramping up once again that a positive announcement on the takeover is imminent, there is a new report linking Coutinho to Newcastle.
Goal is reporting that Barcelona have offered the Brazilian to Arsenal and Newcastle in an attempt to raise funds for Inter striker Lautaro Martinez.
Coutinho is not in Barcelona’s future plans, having spent the past season on loan at Bayern Munich, who declined to make the 28-year-old’s stay permanent.
The report claims neither Arsenal nor the Magpies have responded to the offer as they are both still contemplating their prospects for next season. As far as Newcastle goes, the takeover would have to be approved for them to even consider bringing in Coutinho.
As it stands, those waters are still very muddy. We’ve heard from some, Richard Keys and Craig Hope, that an announcement is close.
However, there’s also a new report that Saudi Arabia has just canceled beIN Sports’ license in their country. Guess we’ll have to wait and see what impact, if any, this has on the takeover.
And now a move by Saudi to cancel the license of PL rights holder beIN Sports in the country. Doesn't seem to tally, on the face of it, with efforts to combat piracy & confidence of takeover being approved. Expecting beIN statement on the matter shortly.
— Craig Hope (@CraigHope_DM) July 14, 2020
251 comments so far
Northumbrian
Jul 14, 2020 at 5:39 PM
Comment #1In a heartbeat bring on the takeover.
JohnReese
Jul 14, 2020 at 5:39 PM
Comment #2Fantastic day out stalking stags on a local estate. I’m a bit rusty but my eldest boy genuinely couldn’t hit water if he fell out a boat. Must take after his mother.
Anyone who’s wanting a change of scenery after lockdown should get themselves up here now that the estates are opening up again.
TyneMouth
Jul 14, 2020 at 5:40 PM
Comment #3Intriguing quote from George Culkin,;
“I know Staveley & her camp & the people running the football side.”
I wonder who are the ‘people running the football side’?
Is this Staveley’s soon to be legendary ‘Boot Room’ gang?
Gothmog's Pyjamas
Jul 14, 2020 at 5:42 PM
Comment #4i tell ya, Ashley has really stepped his game up this time with the amount of footy people, journos, governments, widows, MPs, warring middle eastern nation states, American TV moguls, Human rights agencies and the like that have been taken in by this hoax.
KBA really are the masters of the dark arts.
Mund
Jul 14, 2020 at 5:42 PM
Comment #5Cuuuuummmmon get it done already
Gothmog's Pyjamas
Jul 14, 2020 at 5:44 PM
Comment #6steve
@oldheatonian
Beln breached consumer rights rules with what has been deemed the illegal packaging of sports packages for financial gain. Saudi therefore pulled out of MENA and are asking PL for own deal . Others will follow. Asian football already breaking MENA up. This remains a sideshow
carltoon
Jul 14, 2020 at 5:46 PM
Comment #7Does anyone know if this means the takeover is off.
Mund
Jul 14, 2020 at 5:47 PM
Comment #8GP looking good mate 🙂
carltoon
Jul 14, 2020 at 5:47 PM
Comment #9Or does anyone know anything ?
Mund
Jul 14, 2020 at 5:47 PM
Comment #10carltoon defo on still 🙂 don’t worry
Mund
Jul 14, 2020 at 5:48 PM
Comment #11It’s the final hurdle carltoon
TyneMouth
Jul 14, 2020 at 5:48 PM
Comment #12I’ve wondered throughout this saga, as to who’s advising Mandy on matters related to football, and who to recruit?
It will be fascinating to find out when the dust settles!
Talking of dust, this end-game is like the’Good, the Bad and the Ugly’
… only this time without the ‘Good’!
Northumbrian
Jul 14, 2020 at 5:49 PM
Comment #13Christ been away for 2 hrs and its gone from announcement by Friday to deals off !!! What’s going on???.
carltoon
Jul 14, 2020 at 5:49 PM
Comment #14Oh! Well I’ll leave me mourning clothes out just in case.
The mighty wyn
Jul 14, 2020 at 5:50 PM
Comment #15Re the transfer window
As I thought yesterday it’s not open yet. Just been ssn that clubs voting on it on Thursday expected to open on 27th after season complete
Mund
Jul 14, 2020 at 5:50 PM
Comment #16Lol better have your best dress and shoes next to that carltoon 😉
Anglo Saxon
Jul 14, 2020 at 5:51 PM
Comment #17Belfast you seem to have a lot of info would be great if you could spill the beans.
Oldgit1 backed me up against tuff some of tuffs venom was disgusting, to say the least, and yet he’s got the temerity to point A finger at others.
Northumbrian
Jul 14, 2020 at 5:54 PM
Comment #18Looking like I should have all these cans on a drink or return.
😉
carltoon
Jul 14, 2020 at 5:55 PM
Comment #19John Reece, will be up there tomorrow with me wellies on.
Munster Mag
Jul 14, 2020 at 5:59 PM
Comment #20Mund
Jul 14, 2020 at 9:35 AM
Comment #20
Jail you are a hypocrite of the highest order mate.
I think the aim for you with backing the Vegan up is to look like the blog saviour.
Let’s not forget how you treated me when I first came on and GT as well as, Munster and Jib and the constant crap you gave Dubai Micky. The list goes on mate but that’s my point.
…….
Spot on Mund. Jail is a total hypocrite and harasses people by bring up stuff they said years ago to try to prove some spurious point .
In Limerick terms, a gowl.
Munster Mag
Jul 14, 2020 at 6:02 PM
Comment #21If true, is this action by KSA not of concern? Spite after losing the battle? Depends how you look at it I guess?
geordietom
Jul 14, 2020 at 6:03 PM
Comment #22seems to me like the north african states are sick of bein and they want to go it alone …
TyneMouth
Jul 14, 2020 at 6:03 PM
Comment #23I hope who ever is advising Mandy on football matters, is of a higher calibre of expert than Ashley’s team of Denis Wise and Joe Kinear!
Porciestreet
Jul 14, 2020 at 6:03 PM
Comment #24I wonder if by cancelling the bein conntract means theyve agreed to pay for their own deal which makes sense as the PL would then have TWO billion dollar deals without any fighting involved.
Just a thought.
hibbit
Jul 14, 2020 at 6:04 PM
Comment #25Anglo
was a guy from low fell who lived in oz who knew tuff and always claimed tuff was a mackem,
for the life of me i can not remember his name but i believe he passed away some time last year , sure someone will remember him
Northumbrian
Jul 14, 2020 at 6:04 PM
Comment #26Tynemouth maybe its Rafa lol,she is very friendly with him.
😉
geordietom
Jul 14, 2020 at 6:06 PM
Comment #27hibbit …
ask Jail he dwell’s in the past …
The mighty wyn
Jul 14, 2020 at 6:09 PM
Comment #28I can’t see how this latest move means it’s been turned down. Logic seems to suggest they know it’s going to be approved and have their own deal otherwise they’re going to be back down the piracy route to watch games
peter5199
Jul 14, 2020 at 6:09 PM
Comment #29Don’t tell Kev!
Oldest vegetarian restaurant closes
The pandemic was the “final straw” for Britain’s oldest vegetarian restaurant, which is to close after almost six decades. Hendersons, a family-owned restaurant in Edinburgh, opened in 1962 after Janet Miller, its founder…
WLtoon
Jul 14, 2020 at 6:10 PM
Comment #30Evening all, not sure what to make of the Saudi banning of Bein Sports
Either they have sorted their own deal with the PL to show games, so they don,t need to answer to Qatar for anything, OR they have have totally spat the dummy out .
For me, the former makes the most sense.
DaveD1000
Jul 14, 2020 at 6:11 PM
Comment #31Ex-pat was the aussie poster
peter5199
Jul 14, 2020 at 6:11 PM
Comment #32WLtoon, all you need to know is that KSA and Qatar like each other less than Toon, and Dunderland
Munster Mag
Jul 14, 2020 at 6:11 PM
Comment #33Hibbitt, cant remember his name but I do remember him – nice bloke, died of cancer. Loved his wine and Oz.
Jail for Ashley
Jul 14, 2020 at 6:12 PM
Comment #34expat mag.
Anglo Saxon
Jul 14, 2020 at 6:12 PM
Comment #35Hibbit, would love somebody from the beginning of the blog to give me the lowdown, would be interesting info.
hexhamtoon
Jul 14, 2020 at 6:13 PM
Comment #36It has always seemed anomalous to me
that Qatar pop 2,881,053
has PL exclusivity over
Egypt pop 102,334,404
Algera pop 43,851,044
Morocco pop 36,910,560
UAE pop 9,890,402
Libya pop 6,871,292
Mund
Jul 14, 2020 at 6:13 PM
Comment #37WL get in lad are we back on the bus or just a foot?? 😉
Gothmog's Pyjamas
Jul 14, 2020 at 6:14 PM
Comment #38i think the whole MENA area will now begin to lose the blanket coverage from one provider and generally each country will go it alone and arrange their own deals. The AFC started this already
How you can have countries who are at war being covered by a deal run by one of the countries is crazy in reality as we have seen.
peter5199
Jul 14, 2020 at 6:16 PM
Comment #39Watching WBA vs Fulham, not a good game (understatement). Can someone tell my Fulham Neighbour Kevin Mc (he is on the bench) that his new club sponsored Range Rover has arrived. 🙂
Kevin Vegan
Jul 14, 2020 at 6:16 PM
Comment #40So after employing a woman who Ashley described as a tyre kicker and who’s about to go to court trying to sue one of the PL’s main sponsors, the Saudi government has now banned BeIN?
Anyone would think they don’t want to buy us!
Tomorrow’s news: Reuben brothers assault Richard Masters the street…