US media tycoon Henry Mauriss has launched a £350m bid to hijack the Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle United.
He is ready to step in with a quick deal if the Amanda Staveley brokered consortium fails to get approval for their £300m deal signed with current owner Mike Ashley.
Mirror Sport revealed Mauriss's interest in Newcastle last month, with claims he is waiting in the wings to rescue the Geordie clubs from Ashley's 13 year reign.
The BBC claimed on Wednesday that Mauriss has hardened up his interest and made a bid.
The proposed Saudi state funded takeover has caused massive controversy after the country was accused of TV broadcast piracy on a massive scale, wit the Premier League giving evidence against them.
They are also targeted by campaigners including Amnesty over their human rights record.
Should the Premier League rule the Saudi bid it too controversial and doesn't pass their ownership test, Mauriss is Ashely's other option for a sale.
He wants to be in charge in time for next season which is likely to start in mid-September.
This development comes after Saudi Arabia were warned their broadcast piracy of the Premier League must be “dealt with”.
The buy-out of the Tyneside club has been held up because top flight bosses are in a legal dilemma over approving the Saudis as majority owners.
The state is accused by a host of sporting organisations including FIFA, UEFA, La Liga, Bundesliga, Wimbledon and the FA of ripping off TV coverage, costing legitimate rights holders hundreds of millions of pounds.
With the Saudi legal system preventing the Premier League and others from launching claims in their courts, the World Trade Organisation has gathered a haul of evidence.
And on Sunday WTO director general Roberto Azevedo said: “Our agreement on intellectual property rights is very clear.
“These rules have been put in place not by accident, but to be observed. There will be a ruling. How members respond is entirely up to them.”
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