Saudi Finance Minister has provided an insight into the value of overseas investments amid the prospective Newcastle United takeover.
Elsewhere, the Magpies have been linked with a move for Real Betis playmaker Nabil Fekir.
Here are your top Newcastle United stories for May 5.
Saudi Finance Minister's insight
The takeover of Newcastle United will help the government of Saudi Arabia cope with the impact of the Covid-19 crisis.
The proposed buy-out of Mike Ashley by Amanda Staveley, The Reuben Brothers and the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, is currently going through the Premier League checks.
If passed, it would represent another large investment from the PiF which has been undertaken since Covid-19 crisis began.
The PiF have bought shares in Live Nation, Carnival Cruises, and oil company Equinor.
At a time when businesses are struggling due to the Coronavirus as most of the globe go through a lockdown, those at the PiF have decided to try and take advantage of falling valuations.
Yet despite the vast wealth within the PiF, the government of Saudi, like many others, is facing a decision when it comes to budget and revenue.
Fekir links
Newcastle United have been linked with a move for Nabil Fekir in the Spanish daily AS.
In a move that illustrates the current rush by agents to position themselves ahead of the club’s Saudi-backed takeover, the Real Betis playmaker is the latest big name to have his name floated as a marquee arrival if Mike Ashley sells up.
After Phillipe Countinho and Arturo Vidal, United fans would be forgiven for thinking they were living in an alternate reality given the calibre of player that overseas media are starting to link with Newcastle.
The story – highlighted by Sportwitness – claims United have made an enquiry along with Milan and Arsenal but no one has come close to triggering his 50million Euro price tag.
Fekir would prefer to stay in Spain and wants Champions League football according to the report but the very presence of United’s name is telling when it comes to the buzz the potential takeover is creating.
Cisse exclusive
Here's a snippet of Ciaran Kelly's interview with former Newcastle United number nine Papiss Cisse.
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Taking the No 9 shirt at Newcastle United? It was a no-brainer for Papiss Cisse. The striker previously had that very number on his back at Freiburg and believed it brought him luck. But before the Magpies' new signing could try it on for the first time, in January, 2012, Alan Pardew had something to show him.
"Are you sure? Do you know the guy who wore this number before?" the Newcastle manager asked the club's new arrival as he queued up a video of Alan Shearer's greatest goals on YouTube. Cisse's mouth dropped. "Wow, who is this guy?" he asked.
Ultimately, Cisse stuck to his guns and, after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, the Senegalese lit up St James' Park with a stunning winning goal on his debut against Aston Villa.
From that day on, Pardew could not resist asking Cisse a familiar question when he came across the striker in the canteen at the club's training ground.
"You sure?" he joked.
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Cisse responded.
Project Restart delay
Premier League chiefs will delay an important shareholders meeting to discuss the next steps in their Project Restart plans until after the Prime Minister’s speech next Sunday.
Boris Johnson is due to outline the ways in which he intends to ‘unlock the various parts of the UK economy’, which was expected to take place on Thursday but has now been pushed back to Sunday.
The Premier League was due to convene in their latest shareholder meeting on Friday, following the government’s announcement, but the meeting will now take place on Monday, with the top-flight taking its cue from the government’s position.
Shelvey on Gayle partnership
Dwight Gayle is 'unreal' and Jonjo Shelvey has likened their partnership to the one Steven Gerrard enjoyed with Fernando Torres at Liverpool - even if the playmaker has clashed with the Newcastle United striker on a number of occasions in training.
Shelvey quickly struck up an understanding with Gayle in the Championship following the latter's £10m move from Bournemouth in the summer of 2016.
As well as sending Gayle clear with his trademark balls over the top, Shelvey also had someone who could get on the end of his cutbacks when he drifted out wide.
Gayle ended that Championship-winning season as Newcastle's top scorer with 23 goals and such is the respect Shelvey has for him, when it came to choosing a dream XI from players he played with throughout his career for In The Box, the 28-year-old selected his team-mate alongside Wayne Rooney and Luis Suarez in a three-man frontline.
Charlton on why he couldn't sign for NUFC
Leeds United legend and England World Cup hero Jack Charlton has revealed the reason why he could not sign for Newcastle United.
Charlton recorded 773 appearances in a career spanning more than two decades at Leeds, winning the First and Second Division titles, the FA Cup, League Cup, Charity Shield, Fairs Cup and World Cup.
Born in Ashington, Northumberland, Charlton remains a lifelong Newcastle fan despite spending his entire career with Leeds.
The future England centre-back admits he could have had a trial with his beloved Magpies before committing to Leeds - but his mother insisted he was not allowed to go.
