An MP has called for the proposed takeover of Newcastle United to be blocked amid concerns over the alleged Saudi piracy of televised football games.
Elsewhere, reports have indicated Serie A giant AS Roma have positioned themselves as a takeover alternative if the Magpies' bid falls through.
Here are your top Newcastle United stories for May 15:
Govt urged to intervene
The Government has been urged to intervene in the Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle United with one MP calling for the deal to be blocked.
The buy-out of the club is currently with the Premier League but the green light for the deal to be complete is taking longer than expected as several objections to the Saudi Royal Family becoming involved in Premier League football arise.
The Public Investment Fund - which will take 80 per cent control of United - is backed by the wealth of the Kingdom, and issues over human rights and concerns over piracy of televised football games have been raised.
It is the issue over piracy in which the government has been accused of 'dodging' by MP Karl McCartney.
The MP for Lincoln has hit out at Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden and urged him to intervene in the takeover of United - despite the fact last month he made it clear that the final decision would lie with the Premier League.
Watling's motivation
A decision has not yet been made by the digital, culture, media and sport (DCMS) committee on whether to hold an evidence session on the 'theft of UK Sport' by pirate pay television broadcaster beoutQ in light of the proposed takeover of Newcastle United.
Clacton MP Giles Watling, who is a member of the cross-party DCMS committee, has called for an oral evidence session on the matter after previously raising the issue with former secretary of state Jeremy Wright more than a year ago.
The MP is not asking for the proposed takeover to be investigated but, rather, in an email sent to the committee, Mr Watling wrote 'this is even more relevant now within the context of the likely takeover of Newcastle United by a consortium backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund'.
The MP's request comes in the same week legal documents were sent to the Premier League, which claim to establish a link between Saudi Arabia's government and beoutQ. The Kingdom have previously refuted those links.
Agent on Coutinho's future
Philippe Coutinho's agent has denied that any contact has been made by Newcastle United for his client.
The Magpies have been strongly linked to the Barcelona midfielder - who spent the season on loan at Bayern Munich - should the takeover led by Amanda Staveley go through.
Some reports put the Brazilian midfielder as the 'priority' for United's potential new owners with some reporting that contact had already been made, but Coutinho's agent denied this.
Fox's takeover verdict
Ruel Fox is hoping that Newcastle United fans will finally see some stability at St James' Park in the shape of a proposed Middle East takeover.
The former Toon winger was part of the Entertainers era on Tyneside and knows how the good times can roll at United.
Fox, who was a £2.2million signing from Norwich City during a time when Kevin Keegan asked for and got the best players on offer, admits the takeover saga is dragging on.
But he hopes it will be worth it in the end
Roma's 'discreet' enquiry
AS Roma have reportedly approached Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about a potential takeover - if the bid to buy Newcastle United fails.
The proposed takeover on Tyneside by the consortium led by financier Amanda Staveley currently remains in the hands of the Premier League.
Legal documents indicating a deal could be concluded soon were lodged with Companies House five weeks ago.
Yet with no announcement being made so far, the Daily Star reports the Serie A giants have made 'discreet enquiries' regarding Saudi Arabian investment.
Euro 96 revisited
It's 24 years since St James' Park played its part in a major international tournament when it was used as one of the venues for European Championships.
Back then some of the superstars of Europe graced the hallowed turf at St James' with Gheorghe Hagi, Gheorghe Popescu, Hristo Stoichkov, Zinedine Zidane, Didier Deschamps and Lilian Thuram all on show.
With ITV4 making a great decision to boost the spirits of the nation during lockdown we've been taking notes on some things you might have missed first time around.
Here's what we've noticed so far.
