Newcastle takeover headlines with Premier League chief executive asked about 'confidential' process

All of the latest Newcastle United headlines including the latest on the takeover and an update from Richard Masters

The Premier League's chief executive has again remained tight-lipped when asked about the prospective takeover of Newcastle United.

Elsewhere, the Magpies have published their latest financial accounts which reveal profit has almost doubled.

Here are your top Newcastle United stories for May 29:

PL chief asked on takeover

Newcastle United's takeover process must remain "completely confidential" despite the fact supporters on Tyneside are desperate for a decision on whether Mike Ashley's time at the club is over or not.

The Premier League's chief executive Richard Masters was asked directly about the situation for a second time in six days.

This time Masters faced interview questions from Sky Sports but was again keeping his cards close to his chest.

Accounts published

Newcastle United have released their accounts and revealed they made a £34.7million profit for figures ending June 2019.

This shows a significant increase from 12 months earlier when 2018's accounts revealed an £18.6million profit.

With the country still in partial lockdown the club did not put current managing director Lee Charnley up for interview as they have in previous years.

And with Newcastle still undergoing a Premier League owner's and director's test ahead of a potential £300m takeover, this was the first piece of information to filter down from the boardroom in months.

Takeover latest

Newcastle United's would-be buyers are hoping that the resolution of Project Restart will clear the path for the Premier League to conclude their ongoing owner's and director's test.

The Premier League announced yesterday that the competition will restart on June 17 with Newcastle set to take on Sheffield United on the weekend of 19-21 June.

A series of long-winded video conferences and paperwork has not helped the takeover process for Amanda Staveley, the Reuben brothers and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.

However, the Prem's resumption, after two months of no football due to the virus pandemic, has slowed down the process of the £300million deal.

EIBW takeover verdict

Many questions remain over the proposed takeover of Newcastle United by the Saudi Arabian-led consortium as the deal heads towards another week of Premier League scrutiny.

With several objections raised, and the Premier League dealing with Project Restart, the usual four-week period in which takeovers are said to be signed off by has turned to eight.

With so many questions and concerns from fans, we brought our team together at Chronicle NUFC to offer their insight and opinion on the United buy-out.

During a special Zoom even, our panel answered several questions on Newcastle.

Hosted by Andrew Musgrove, the Mirror's Simon Bird and United legend Warren Barton also took part.

You can find the full event via a podcast by clicking for PART ONE, and PART TWO.

Here are the key points.

Benitez backed to return

A return to Newcastle United would be 'phenomenal' for former boss Rafa Benitez - according to one of his title-winning Valencia stars.

The former Magpies' manager has been linked with a second stint in charge at St James' Park following a takeover.

Benitez was unable to save United from relegation in 2016, but led the club back to the top-flight at the first time of asking before securing consecutive mid-table finishes.

The 60-year-old walked away from the club last summer at the end of his contract due to frustrations with the 'vision' of the club's hierarchy.

Benitez is now in charge of Chinese Super League outfit Dalian Professional, but that has not stopped reports linking him and Mauricio Pochettino among the favourites for the hotseat at United.

Miguel Angel Angulo played under Benitez during his successful spell at Valencia which yielded two La Liga titles.

And the former Spain international has backed his former manager to make a sensational return to Tyneside.

Joelinton on goal drought

Joelinton admits his goal drought caused him 'great anxiety' but the Newcastle United No 9 insists he is 'very happy' at the club and has vowed to give a 'lot of joy' to the fans.

The Magpies scouted the Brazilian extensively last season and a club-record deal was in place as far back as February, but Rafa Benitez, who had the final say on transfers, did not want to sign off on it.

Following Benitez's departure, and Steve Bruce's subsequent appointment, Joelinton completed a club-record £40m move from Hoffenheim last summer.

Joelinton has mainly been deployed as a lone frontman, which is a different role to the one he was used to in the Bundesliga, where he often played in either a two or three-man strikeforce under Julian Nagelsmann.

Although Joelinton has only scored one league goal this season, against Spurs in August, he is staying positive ahead of the resumption of the Premier League season.

Rose back in training

Newcastle United's on-loan defender Danny Rose is back in training at Benton.

The Tottenham Hotspur man had valid concerns about returning to first-team training before Project Restart got under way.

However, with the full-back reassured by the club's medical team and boss Steve Bruce, who gave players the option of not returning, Rose has taken part in the club's first full sessions since March as a group.

Rose is also set to get his loan spell from Spurs extended with games set to go on beyond his loan arrangement with the London club.

FA Cup latest

Newcastle United's FA Cup dream is still intact - albeit behind closed doors and with that tough game against Manchester City still lying in wait.

The Magpies have now been handed a date in June for their last eight encounter with last season's treble winners and can start focusing on the clash with Pep Guardiola's team.

As it stands, United's season could even go on until August with the FA Cup final this year taking place once all of the Premier League action is concluded.

But Steve Bruce's side have been handed a provisional 27-28 June date for the quarter-finals.

Pundit backs Shaqiri move

The signing of Liverpool attacker Xherdan Shaqiri would 'excite' Newcastle United fans - according to pundit Danny Mills.

A recent report in the MailOnline linked the Magpies with a summer move for the Swiss international who has struggled for game-time at Anfield this season.

The report claims Liverpool would not stand in the way of a transfer should the 28-year-old decide to move on after two years on Merseyside.

Roma and Sevilla are understood to have made enquiries for Shaqiri in the January window, and the attacking midfielder's last appearance for the Reds came as a late substitute against Tottenham on January 11.

The prospective owners of United have reportedly already made contact with the attacking midfielder's representatives over a potential switch.

Mills believes Shaqiri would be a "quality" player at St James' Park, and tipped the Champions League winner to shine in a more central role in black-and-white.

Neutral venue for Liverpool clash?

Newcastle United's "home" clash with Liverpool on the final day of the Premier League season could be switched to a neutral venue.

Police have identified a number of fixtures that could present issues with supporters turning up at grounds to back their teams from outside the stadium despite the behind closed doors ruling.

And with Liverpool potentially set to be presented with the Premier League trophy on the final day the authorities feel that fans may travel to Tyneside.

Stones should 'jump' on NUFC train

John Stones should kickstart his career and 'jump on that train' at Newcastle United.

That's the view of pundit and Sunderland legend Kevin Phillips, who believes the two-time Premier League winner needs to leave Manchester City to revive his career.

The England international arrived at the Etihad Stadium in 2016 for a fee rising to £50m - making the former Everton centre-back the second most expensive defender in the world at that time.

Stones has lifted two Premier League titles and featured for the Three Lions at the 2018 World Cup, but has struggled for a starting spot under Pep Guardiola so far this campaign.

The 26-year-old has made just 12 Premier League appearances, with the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss regularly selecting Aymeric Laporte, Fernandinho and Nicolas Otamendi ahead of him.

Bruce backs extra subs

Steve Bruce says he will be in full support of the Premier League if clubs are permitted to use five substitutes in matches in Project Restart.

The former Manchester United skipper has watched on as the Bundesliga got back under way and used the option of more changes thanks to FIFA's relaxed rulebook.

Bruce and his players are now counting down to a clash with Sheffield United in mid-June.