Shock Newcastle United takeover claim as Premier League examine deal

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has agreed a £300million deal for the club in conjunction with financier Amanda Staveley and billionaire property investors David and Simon Reuben.

The proposed deal is now with the Premier League, who are running their owners’ and directors’ test on Staveley and her backers.

TV presenter Keys spoke in support of Qatar-based beIN Sports, his employer, on The Keys & Gray Show after chief executive Yousef Al-Obaidly wrote to the Premier League and its member clubs asking them to block a proposed £300million takeover because games are being shown illegally in Saudi Arabia.

Al-Obaidly said: “It’s no exaggeration to say that the future economic model of football is at stake.”

Keys strongly backed Al-Obaidly’s move before claiming that there is a SECOND bid for United “on the table”.

“There is one way out of this, and it might be that it suits everybody,” said Keys. “I know for a fact there’s another bid on the table – and there has been for some time.

“I thought it would come to a conclusion at Christmas. I thought it might come to a conclusion early in the New Year.

“The one thing Mike Ashley has not done is comment on this speculation surrounding the current bid – said nothing. I still believe he would prefer the other bid to come a successful conclusion. The Saudis, I think, have got two weeks exclusivity left, and then watch and wait for developments.”