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A political development in the Middle East may excite Newcastle United fans amid speculation that the proposed £300m takeover of the St. James’ Park faithful by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium may still happen.

As per NBC News, the KSA and Qatar are expected to reach an agreement within a matter of days that will help ease a standoff between the latter and other countries in the Gulf region, which has existed since 2017.

The Chronicle have highlighted its potential relevance to the prospective deal between Mike Ashley and the KSA group, tweeting that the possible rapprochement is ‘being watched by takeover observers’.

In their corresponding article, the news outlet also highlighted the political dispute between the two countries involved added an extra element to the takeover debate, given that the Qatari broadcaster BeIN Sports were heavily against any KSA involvement with the Premier League.

The KSA consortium are also reportedly keeping their own eye on the political developments in the Middle East, and what it could mean for their chances of taking over the Tyneside club.

What does this mean for the Newcastle takeover?

This latest development may well excite members of the Toon Army given that the two countries seemingly have softened their disputes with each other, and this latest agreement could play a part as to whether the takeover of the Magpies could still go ahead, assuming that there are still any piracy issues that still need to be settled.

In other news, find out why takeover hopes have been boosted here!

With Celtic considerably off the pace in the SPFL at the moment, perhaps the transfer window is approaching at just the right time.

We are now only five weeks away from seeing the window open its doors but will Neil Lennon even be in charge then? Time will tell.

What’s the word?

If Lennon is still at the helm then he’ll have a lot of work to do in order to presumably bridge what will still be a big gap between Celtic and their arch-rivals Rangers.

We’ve seen players like Siriki Dembele linked with a move to the club but a fresh story revolves around someone already in Glasgow; Diego Laxalt.

The left-back signed on loan for the 2020/21 season in the summer but there is a strong possibility that he could complete a permanent switch to Parkhead.

AC Milan currently owns the Uruguayan but according to Italian outlet PianetaMilan, he could be Celtic’s man on one condition.

They suggest that Milan will look to use Laxalt as a bargaining chip in order to lure Kristoffer Ajer to the San Siro in a swap deal.

Reportedly, Celtic’s relationship with the Serie A giants is healthy so a deal could well be pursued.

Long-term Tierney successor

Judging by Celtic’s defensive record this season Ajer won’t be as great a loss as we first envisaged when rumours of a move to Milan first start swirling last summer.

The 22-year-old has played 13 times in the SPFL this term but has conceded 13 goals in the process – that’s ten more than Rangers.

Thus, selling him to Milan and getting Laxalt in return would be a phenomenal piece of business.

Since Kieran Tierney left for Arsenal in 2019, the Bhoys haven’t really found a natural successor on the left-hand side.

However, their current option in that third of the pitch offers so much to the side and shares great similarities with Tierney.

The Scot was always a pillar of consistency, combining speed and energy with an unrelenting attitude. Does that sound familiar? Of course it does – you only need to look at Laxalt.

The Uruguay international is quick and has demonstrated excellent ability both defensively and offensively this season.

“I like him a lot. He gets about and puts a tackle in and I like that. He has that never-say-die attitude which is a very good sign. It looks like he will prove to be a great signing,” Frank McAvennie said earlier this year.

The plaudits have been continuous for the 27-year-old. Lennon commented: “Diego has been an excellent addition, a superb asset to the squad. He’s very fit and he’s a great defender. He gives us good balance on the left. He’s aggressive in his play and in his passing.”

Aggressive and never-say-die are the exact qualities that Tierney displayed in the famous green and white.

Laxalt really does feel like the natural successor Celtic have been crying out for.

In other news, Celtic could FINALLY find their replacement for Scott Sinclair…

Neil Lennon’s Celtic are struggling to find their feet again after a loss against Rangers rocked their form. The Old Firm derby saw the Hoops defeated on home soil, which has heavily impacted the team’s performance.

Celtic are currently being hammered left, right and centre by injury blows and positive cases of coronavirus. The latter has seen the likes of Odsonne Edouard ruled out of action, but he made a much-anticipated return during their clash against Lille in the Europa League.

Focus now shifts once again to Aberdeen, who held the Hoops to a 3-3 draw in the league last Sunday. The two sides will meet again tomorrow in the Scottish Cup and Lennon will be back at the drawing board and considering his options.

Leigh Griffiths looking to make changes

Due to injury and also more than likely the poor form, the manager has been chopping and changing his lineups heavily recently. Lennon has switched between a back three to a back four, and a front three to a double strike force. Star player Edouard was on the bench last time out, limited to less than half an hour of action in France.

One man who he could turn to though is Leigh Griffiths, although it will mean he will need to serve a generous plate of humble pie.

After the Hoops disappointed Lennon with a draw in their opening Veolia Trophy fixture, he let loose on the striker, who hadn’t travelled with the team.

“I’m not happy,” he told talkSPORT. “I think that’s fairly obvious by the fact that we’ve left him [Griffiths] behind. He’s come back out of condition and overweight. Any physical work we asked him to do he was coming out of saying he was injured. That’s going to be the case because he’s out of condition. So it would have been absolutely pointless bringing him with us. He wouldn’t have been fit to play.”

But Griffiths is on a mission to change the gaffer’s perspective of him. Despite making just three league appearances for Celtic this season, he has scored twice – both times from off the bench (via Transfermarkt).

Lennon is currently switching up his attack in desperate search for a winning combination. The £15,000 per week forward’s attitude is just short of waving his hands and the air and calling for his attention.

Griffiths expressed his desire to edge himself into the club’s top 20 highest scorers in a recent interview with the Glasgow Times.

This burning desire could be enough to transform the Hoops’ season and change Lennon’s mind. He will be hoping that he is given a chance to prove himself against Aberdeen tomorrow.

In other news, Diego Laxalt stood out for Celtic against Lille with impressive defensive display…

According to Football Insider, Southampton have opened talks to sign Newcastle defender DeAndre Yedlin on a loan deal before the close of the transfer window on Monday night.

What’s the word?

The USA international has yet to feature for Steve Bruce’s side this season, with Javier Manquillo and Emil Krafth both appearing to be ahead of him in the pecking order.

The 27-year-old has made just two appearances in this new campaign, with both of them coming in the Carabao Cup, whilst he hasn’t even made the match-day squad in three out of the four of Newcastle’s Premier League games.

Now, Football Insider claim Southampton are ready to take him off Steve Bruce’s hands for the season, and that the Tyneside club have given the green light for his loan exit.

Bruce needs to step in

On the face of it, calling for Bruce to jump in and intervene just when a fringe player looks to be heading out of the door, seems far-fetched. But there are two key reasons why the Magpies should really think twice before letting Yedlin make his way down to the south coast.

First, and most importantly, it doesn’t make sense financially – in the long-term at least – to let him leave on loan. Yedlin has just 12 months left on his £30k-a-week contract at St James’ Park, and if he were to move to Southampton for the season, then Newcastle would have to just watch him walk away on a free transfer come the end of the campaign.

Whilst his wages would be off the books, the Magpies will have missed the last true opportunity to actually get in some kind of money for Yedlin, and potentially have it reinvested elsewhere. He may not command big-money, but especially in this current climate, every little does actually help.

Then, there’s the footballing reason. Whilst Southampton and Newcastle aren’t exactly fierce rivals, they have shown early signs this season of being right in the mix for a top-ten finish, being separated by only one point and two places (9th and 11th respectively). Why would the Magpies want to strengthen a team who are competing for similar objectives as them? Letting Yedlin leave at least on loan does have its merits, but Bruce may be wise to just sit back and take stock.

Glasgow Rangers continued their impressive form with another victory on Wednesday, this time against St Johnstone.

The ‘Gers beat Aberdeen 1-0 in their first match in the Premiership this term before then hammering St Mirren 3-0. They won by the same scoreline in midweek against the Perth outfit, with Ryan Kent, Joe Aribo and Borna Barisic scoring the goals. As it stands, they are top of the table and are five points ahead of their fierce city rivals Celtic.

However, it wasn’t all good news for Steven Gerrard on Wednesday. Unfortunately, new signing Leon Balogun was forced off at half-time, and it has since emerged that he is a doubt for the match against Livingston this weekend.

Many ‘Gers fans have been reacting to the news and it is fair to say they are far from happy – after all, the £720,000-valued Nigeria international, as per Transfermarkt, has helped to keep clean sheets in both of his first two league matches. Some supporters took to Twitter to share their thoughts and you can see some of the best comments from the social media platform below:

‘Gers fans, how big a blow is it to see Balogun injured? Let us know what you think by commenting below!

Jose Mourinho is looking to offload right-back Serge Aurier this summer as he plans a defensive shake-up, according to the Mirror.

Spurs have already lost veteran centre-back Jan Vertonghen, and Kyle Walker-Peters is likely to follow with Southampton and Fulham after the young defender.

Both AC Milan and Monaco are interested in signing the Ivory Coast international, and he has been valued by Spurs at large £35m sum.

Aurier has not lived to up to expectations and has never became a reliable full-back for Spurs in place of his predecessor – Kyle Walker. Unfortunately for Aurier, he has ended up on the bad side of fans in recent months for a number of costly errors he has made in crucial games.

AC Milan have reportedly been in contact with Spurs over the possible transfer or Aurier, and it is speculated that a meeting point for a deal could be around the €20m mark according to football.london.

At just 27-years-of-age, the Ivorian is in his prime and still has lots to prove for any team he plays for. Across Spurs’ previous campaign, Aurier racked up 38 appearances in the Premier League and Champions League – scoring two goals and assisting seven.

Aurier sale is win-win for Spurs

The sale of Serge Aurier looks to be a win-win situation for all parties involved. Spurs would receive a solid fee for the right-back which Mourinho would be able to re-invest in his defence.

Either AC Milan or Monaco would be receiving an experienced right-back, and Aurier himself would be happy playing regular top-level football.

If he is to be sold by Spurs this summer, they must sign an established full-back who is ready to slot into their defence.

We have seen with Ryan Sessegnon that he is not up to the Premier League level as of yet, and it would be a shame if they sign another young defender who lacks the vital experience Mourinho needs.

This article forms part of our Total Duds feature series, which is where Football Transfer Tavern takes a look at how a player has fared since being signed or sold, using statistical figures and statements from pundits to prove how bad a deal the club got.

Liverpool’s rich history and recent run of success can often distort what a rollercoaster of a ride it’s been. The positive signings and season-defining moments can make a lot of people forget just how much the Reds have struggled in the past.

Rafa Benitez had just let one of the side’s best players leave in a £30million move to Real Madrid. An influential midfielder who helped Liverpool reach the dizzying heights of their 2005 Champions League win and 2006 FA Cup success. Steven Gerrard and Co needed someone of similar calibre to fill the void in midfield.

It would be a tall ask and, certainly in hindsight, one Benitez would not be able to deliver on.

Alberto Aquilani was welcomed to the club in the summer of 2009, after Liverpool agreed a £20m fee with Roma. The Italian’s stats weren’t spellbinding during his time in the capital, but he had the promise to contribute to the Reds’ engine room. However, nothing could’ve been further from reality.

In the three years he was a Liverpool player, Aquilani made just 28 appearances and spent the rest of his time out on loan. He missed the opening eight matches of the Premier League in the 2009/10 season with an ankle injury sustained in Italy.

The midfielder managed to muster up a measly two goals in his 28 matches played across all competitions for the Reds, with just six assists to top that off (via Transfermarkt). Off the back of his debut season, he was sent out on loan twice before Fiorentina decided to take him off Liverpool’s hands permanently.

Aquilani moved back to Italy in a €7m (£6.3m) transfer to Fiorentina, where he made more of an impact, but didn’t set the league alight.

Ultimately, Liverpool saw a huge 68.5% loss on what they originally forked out for the midfield man. A massive deficit which has no doubt created a sense of wariness for the club as they approach future deals.

How would you describe Alberto Aquilani’s time at Anfield? Join the conversation in the comments below…

Glasgow Rangers, just like the rest of Scottish football, will be keeping an eye on the court case involving Hearts, Partick Thistle and the SPFL this week.

Proceedings are set to start on Wednesday as the two clubs attempt to either remain in their respective divisions or receive compensation. This comes after they were relegated from the Premiership and the Championship respectively following the premature end to the season. Both were still well within a chance of staying up.

The SPFL, obviously, do not want to lose this battle. They have sent out a letter, signed by SPFL chief Neil Doncaster, which, according to both Hearts and Partick, is misleading and is also wrong. They have questioned the timing of it, as well.

The Gers have had run-ins with the governing body recently, and the supporters have taken to Twitter to share their anger – one fan even called Doncaster a “fraud”. You can see some of the best comments from the social media platform below.

Let us know what you think!

So it appears very likely now that Liverpool fans will not get to bear witness to their side being crowned Premier League winners this season.

With football in England gearing up for a return later next month, trying to work out logistics over where and when matches should be played has been one of the main talking points.

Spot the fact from the fib: Are these Premier League records true or false?

World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

Now, The Athletic journalist James Pearce has relayed some information on that matter, revealing that aside from clashes against Everton, Manchester City and Newcastle (which are all set to be played at neutral venues), Liverpool will be allowed to be play their remaining home games at Anfield – but with one big caveat however.

Pearce adds that another game at Anfield may have to be moved if if turns out to be a match in which the Reds can clinch the Premier League title.

And after hearing about Pearce’s update, Liverpool fans flooded to Twitter to share their anger and frustration at the news.

One Liverpool fan in particular questioned the fairness of how at every opportunity the Reds will have to win the title at home, the game will be moved to a neutral venue.

A couple of Liverpool supporters seemed to be particularly critical of the Premier League’s decision-making, and suggesting that the people behind making the call didn’t know what they are doing.

Understandably, fans of the Merseyside club don’t seem to be particularly thrilled with this latest idea.

They have waited for so long to see their side lift the trophy, and as some of them have suggested themselves, feel slightly insulted that they would breach government guidelines.

Whatever the case though, Jurgen Klopp’s men are set to lift the title, and that should be incredibly satisfying when it happens.

Leeds United fans on Twitter have been raving over Mateusz Bogusz after the young Polish midfielder netted a delightful free-kick for the U23s against Sheffield United on Friday.

The above clip tells you all you need to know as it’s clear that any praise he’s received from the Elland Road faithful is more than warranted.

Words don’t really do it justice, but if that technique is telling of what type of player Bogusz will develop into, then United may have an exceptional talent on their hands.

Supporters seem to really rate the teenager as some called for him to get a chance in the first-team while on fan compared him to a young John Sheridan.

Whether or not Bogusz gets a run in the senior squad in the near future remains to be seen, but the Pole certainly looks as if he could develop into a supremely talented player in the not so distant future.

Here’s what the Elland Road faithful have been saying on social media…

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