Mike Ashley believes Newcastle United takeover is close

A new dawn at Newcastle United looks to be on the horizon

Newcastle United look one step closer to having new owners in charge after insiders at the club claim that current owner Mike Ashley believes a deal is close to being agreed, according to Chronicle Live. One source at the club has even been reported as saying that "Mike thought the club was sold in April 2020 and he believes he has a deal now. "It's all down to Mike and the Premier League now." The news comes after Saudi Arabia ended their dispute with Qatar-based company BeIN Sports which will see them lift their four-year ban on showing BeIN Sports. https://twitter.com/ChronicleNUFC/status/1445793346383867904 After the news earlier, there is now even hope that club's arbitration battle, which is set to take place in January 2022, will be dropped which would enable the Premier League to give the green light to Amanda Staveley, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and the Reuben brothers for the estimated £340 million takeover to be completed. With the piracy issue solved, it is now believed that the only other issue to sort will be the legal row between Mike Ashley, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters and other top-flight officials. It will also hinge on whether Staveley and co are still happy to go through with the deal that they originally had in place back in 2020, as well as who will actually take charge of the club - either Saudi Arabia or the Public Investment Fund and it's partners. Members who are involved in the consortium have previously stated that Saudi Arabia itself would have no say when it came to running the club. It is believed that Newcastle, the Premier League and the Middle East have been approached for comment by the Chronicle, with the Premier League declining to make a comment at this stage. Related links: 

• Saudi Arabia ends beIN Sport ban, opening door for Newcastle takeover
• Premier League ‘abused its position’ in Newcastle takeover bid, tribunal hears
• Saudi Arabian PIF reportedly interested in purchasing Inter Milan rather than Newcastle