Newcastle United are interested in Odsonne Edouard - and it's a move that could happen whatever plays out with the club's ownership.
The Celtic striker is one of the players being monitored by United's current scouting team, who are continuing operations despite the huge uncertainty at the top.
Edouard ticks boxes that the current regime require - age, potential and ability to make an impact. And, according to those with knowledge of the would-be buyers, his profile also qualifies for their remit.
One of the issues with the elongated takeover saga is that it is lessening the timeframe to make big changes at the club before the 2020/21 season, whenever that starts. With big changes envisaged, the sooner the deal is green lighted the better.
But it may end up that there is some crossover - hence the importance of current scouting plans.
Edouard recently hinted that he would stay at Celtic but a Premier League move might appeal. Newcastle are in the market for striking reinforcements this summer, with question marks over most of their current strikeforce.
The 22-year-old would be a good addition at United (MD).
***
Prospective owners are believed to be fully aware of the important supporter groups within the community of Newcastle.
Work is believed to have been done to see how relations could be built between charities and groups should the takeover of the club be passed.
A source close to one such organisation told Chronicle Live that Amanda Staveley was 'supportive' of their work and full understanding of the links between the charity and the club.
This relationship is thought to have been struck up back in 2017 when Staveley first laid the foundations for a takeover (AM).
***
BeIN SPORTS have held meetings with the Premier League in recent months but ChronicleLive understands these calls were 'nothing out of the ordinary' as the organising body regularly speaks with broadcasters.
Yousef Al-Obaidly, the company's CEO, wrote to chairmen of Premier League clubs in April to declare 'the potential acquirer of Newcastle United [has] caused huge damage to your club’s and the Premier League’s commercial revenues'.
This was, of course, in reference to Saudi Arabia's links to pirate pay television broadcaster beoutQ, which have previously been refuted by the Kingdom.
While a lot has been made of the objections raised in opposition to Newcastle's proposed takeover, and the upcoming release of the World Trade report, the reality is that the Premier League have their own legal team, technical experts, analytics firms and investigative firms to consult with.
The organising body, themselves, have also taken a hardline stance against piracy in recent years.
The Premier League previously wrote to the US government in February to ask them to keep Saudi Arabia on the priority watch list because they believed the Kingdom 'remained a centre for piracy'.
On a local level, the Premier League have prosecuted cases in court following investigations carried out alongside the Federation Against Copyright Theft into individuals selling illegal streaming devices (ISDs), which gave access to unauthorised Premier League broadcasts.
When it comes to the owners' and directors' test, the organising body will have to ascertain whether the allegations the Saudi state have facilitated piracy are grounds to reject the takeover and whether these allegations can be linked to owners or directors the consortium have nominated. (CK)
Newcastle United takeover is done
***
Links to Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz have been described as 'nonsense' by those close to the midfielder.
BILD Sport claimed that Newcastle were one of several clubs interested in signing the 21-year-old this summer - the sides listed included Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.
Sources say there is no contact with United, and such claims were described as 'nonsense'.
Havertz has taken the Bundesliga by storm with 18 goals in the last two seasons and is expected to cost any team at least £80 million to sign.
With United in the middle of a takeover, Havertz is just another name linked to the club, and hints at what is to come for the club should the sale be passed.
In recent months Philippe Coutinho, Edison Cavani, Gareth Bale and Kalidou Kouliabaly have all been linked - some with price tags close or over £100 million, not to mention the weekly wages these four would command.
It hints at a continuous wheel of high profile transfer links which will only go on if the takeover is passed - especially given that United will be a buying club in a market in which few others across Europe will be due to COVID-19. (AM)
