Newcastle United’s takeover still hasn’t happened.
It feels as though that sentence is written in every single news round-up GIVEMESPORT produce but it does bear repeating.
Of course, fans will be desperate for any scraps of information they can find.
The Magpies do have a Premier League return to contend with too, of course, and face Sheffield United in 10 days.
They are currently eight points clear of the relegation zone and will have their sights set a little higher; they are only four points behind 10th-placed Burnley and six behind ninth-placed Arsenal.
Take a look at the best of the headlines below!
Dubravka boost
Martin Dubravka has handed Newcastle a huge boost by declaring himself fit for their top-flight encounter with Sheffield United next week, per the club’s official website.
The Slovakia international sustained a serious injury against Southampton in March, leaving St Mary’s Stadium on crutches.
And he has now declared that he is ready and willing to play for Steve Bruce’s side against the Blades.
He said: “I feel all right.
“Obviously, I’ve done different movements so the first week for me was strange. I was not sure if my knee was 100% repaired.
“But it is now and I don’t even need to think about it.
“I am glad that I am 100% ready and ready to be on the pitch.”
Caulkin’s takeover update
George Caulkin, The Athletic’s Newcastle correspondent, says that the club’s impending takeover has reached its “final stage”, per The Pod on the Tyne podcast.
The Saudi Public Investment Fund have been attempting to wrestle away control from Mike Ashley across the past few weeks, with a £300m deal agreed in principle.
There has yet to be ratification from the Premier League but Caulkin thinks that the deal could be done sooner rather than later.
He said: “There have been various points along the way where it looks like either the green light was about to be given or that the nod has been given somewhere down the line that everything is going to be okay.
“My interpretation of it is that the main bulk of the work has been done on the test, but they are still working through questions.
“I think that is the final stage of the process, but how many times have we said that?”
Longstaff urged to leave
Matty Longstaff has been told to leave Newcastle and follow in the footsteps of former England international Paul Gascoigne.
Noel Whelan, speaking to Football Insider, has said that the midfielder should pursue Udinese’s interest in him.
Sky Sports have reported that the Italian club have offered him a weekly wage of £30,000-per-week and Whelan thinks he should follow the example set by Gazza, who moved to Lazio from Tottenham Hotspur in 1992.
He said: “It would only develop him, experiencing that continental style of football. I think the Udinese offer is hard one to turn down.
“Gazza has been over there for Lazio, they love a Geordie over there!”