Newcastle United have been urged to reconsider their stance against Project Big Picture by EFL chairman Rick Parry.
Elsewhere, Federico Fernandez has discussed the squad's meal with owner Mike Ashley.
Here are your top Newcastle United stories for October 30:
Fernandez on steak summit
Federico Fernandez has lifted the lid on Mike Ashley's steak summit with Newcastle United players over the summer.
The Toon owner treated his players to a meal on the Quayside and was faced with questions from senior stars about what was happening with the takeover after a Middle East consortium attempted to buy the club from the Sports Direct magnate.
Project Big Picture message
EFL chairman Rick Parry has urged Newcastle United to reconsider their stance on Project Big Picture in case they are relegated from the Premier League whilst insisting the proposal is not dead.
The Magpies were one of 14 Premier League clubs to vote against the proposal of handing more power to England's 'big six' as part of the biggest restructure in English football since the formation of the Premier League.
The plans, led by Manchester United, Liverpool and Parry, would have positive impacts for the football pyramid outside the top-flight, whilst also handsomely rewarding the biggest clubs with special powers, such as the ability to block a takeover.
The proposal was fiercely rejected by the Newcastle United and their supporters, as a result.
New kit deal?
It was 15 months ago that a rueful Mike Ashley compared Newcastle's kit deal to the newly-inked contract Spurs had signed with Nike.
Tottenham's seat at the top table - and regular Champions League appearances - means their deal is worth £45million-a-year.
"That is many, many times what Newcastle can get," Ashley said a year ago.
"We’re not near that – nobody is, outside the top six. And I’m being told Liverpool could get £100m for the same deal."
With reports United are banking around £5million-a-year to move to challenger brand Castore next season, there's plenty to unpick about a story that would have real significance off-the-field for Newcastle.
Lascelles injury doubt
Jamaal Lascelles is a doubt for Newcastle United's home clash with Everton.
The skipper limped off in the 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers in last weekend's tie at Molineux.
Lascelles must now prove his fitness in the next 48 hours to have a chance of facing the Toffees at St James' Park.
Transfer target work
Newcastle United are identifying transfer targets and Steve Bruce hopes the club's scouting team will eventually be able to watch these players in the flesh because the alternative is not his 'cup of tea'.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office have advised against all non-essential travel during the pandemic and there are currently just 13 European nations on the exempt countries and territories list.
Among the countries which are not on that list are Spain, France, Italy and Portugal, where Newcastle's talent spotters have previously scouted players.
As a result, the Magpies, like all clubs, have had to change the way they operate and Wyscout has arguably never been a more important tool for head of recruitment Steve Nickson and his team as they keep tabs on players from afar.
Longstaffs in contention
Steve Bruce has admitted that both Sean and Matty Longstaff are back in contention for the home clash with Everton.
With Jonjo Shelvey sidelined with a hernia injury, Bruce will consider the brothers in the next clutch of matches with neither getting a run in the side to date this season.
Bruce, who handed Matty Longstaff his Premier League debut, now has the youngster back after a thigh problem.
Rodriguez misses out
Newcastle United will tackle Everton at the weekend in the knowledge that James Rodriguez will be missing in action at St James' Park.
The Colombia international - who joined from Real Madrid this summer - was injured in the Merseyside derby when suffering a testicular injury.
Richarlison, Lucas Digne, and Seamus Coleman are also out for the encounter on Tyneside.
Nickson's role
"The supporters have loved you at every club you have been at - but not like how the Newcastle fans have."
Steve Nickson's words stuck with Allan Saint-Maximin as the fans' favourite prepared to put pen to paper on a new, improved six-year contract with Newcastle United earlier this month.
The club's head of recruitment has held lengthy discussions with Saint-Maximin - not just about football but about life, too - since the pair first crossed paths last year.
Clearly, Nickson felt a degree of responsibility after the Magpies completed the signing of Saint-Maximin from Nice, identifying and recommending a player can be the more straightforward task; actually integrating a new signing into a different culture, league and environment is the real challenge for the club as a whole.
Every member of staff has played their part in Saint-Maximin's development, whether it is the free role Steve Bruce has entrusted the Frenchman with or how assistant manager Steve Agnew has taken the time to go over his clips with him.
It is rare a head of recruitment is referenced by a player when he signs a new contract, but Nickson's own role in that process became clear when Saint-Maximin was asked what convinced him to sign a new deal.
Kemen's regret
Olivier Kemen has opened up on his regret of leaving Newcastle United as a youngster.
The French midfielder joined the Magpies from Metz in 2013 and spent two seasons at the club, becoming a regular in the under-23s side.
However, despite regularly training with the first-team at Newcastle, he failed to make a senior appearance before being sold to Lyon in 2015.
In an interview with LFP, Kemen, now 24, admitted he lacked the patience required to break into the first-team at Premier League level.
Two trialists
Newcastle United named two trialists in their side during the 3-2 defeat at Reading today in Premier League 2.
The Magpies handed a chance to former Stoke City Under-23 defender Scott Wara and ex-Man United midfielder Dion McGhee.
A team sheet on Soccerway claimed that the duo had appeared for Chris Hogg's side.
BZG linked with Derby
A Middle East consortium that once publicly vowed to buy Newcastle United are back in the headlines and are now being linked with a takeover at Derby County.
The Rams are now wanted by the Bin Zayed Group with the cousin of Man City owner Sheikh Mansour, Sheikh Khale bin Zayed Al Nehayan, looking to buy the Rams, according to the Athletic.
A new UK company set up by the group attended a recent game against Watford at Pride Park.
However, the interest in Newcastle last year petered out after bold talk of a £350million bid.
