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Craig Hope has now dropped an update on Newcastle United’s proposed arbitration case with the Premier League over the initially stalled takeover deal.

The Lowdown: Announcement imminent

As per Sky Sports, an announcement confirming the takeover of the St. James’ Park faithful by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium is now imminent after recent work being done behind the scenes by all of the parties involved.

It is not yet clear how this would affect the arbitration hearing, which is due to take place on January 3rd.

The Latest: Arbitration update

According to Hope, sources have of course indicated that the proposed takeover is expected to go through, but The Daily Mail journalist also gave an update on arbitration:

“Sources indicate NUFC takeover is expected to go through after settlement of piracy issues between Saudi/beIN. I’m told arbitration may not be needed now piracy is resolved.”

The Verdict: Relief

It will certainly come as a relief to the Toon Army not only that it looks like that the takeover will now go through, but that the whole saga is coming to an end after years of waiting.

It is not clear whether the arbitration proceedings will still go ahead assuming an official announcement is made, but at least it looks like a deal will finally be completed soon.

Nonetheless, these are very exciting times for Magpies fans, who will no doubt want the deal to be concluded as quickly as possible.

In other news, find out when Steve Bruce could now be sacked here!

Leicester City manager and former Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has revealed that he wanted to bring Ademola Lookman to Celtic Park during his time with the Hoops.

The Lowdown: Lookman’s Leicester move

Lookman, on £56,000-a-week with parent club RB Leipzig, sealed a late loan move to Leicester City on deadline day.

The Foxes have the option to buy the 23-year-old who Scott Parker described as ‘first class’, at the end of the season.

The winger began his career at Charlton Athletic, and it appears as if he was actually a Celtic target during his time at The Valley.

The Latest: Rodgers’ comments

Rodgers was talking at a press conference on Thursday, cited by Leicester Mercury.

When talking about Lookman, Rodgers confirmed he’s known about Lookman since he was just 15 years of age and admitted he wanted to bring the ‘top talent’ to Scotland.

“I’m really excited about working with Ade. He’s a top talent. I wanted to take him to Celtic when he was at Charlton. I was aware of him when he was 15. He has all the tools, he has a great dribbling ability, how he views the game, he has an eye for a goal. My hope is that this environment will give him a chance to flourish. Hopefully he can find a home here. I have no doubt the supporters will be excited by him.”

The Verdict: If only…

Lookman can play anywhere across the front three and has already racked up over 150 senior appearances, one of which came in the Champions League.

On that basis, you’d expect a versatile winger with Premier League and Bundesliga experience would have gone on to star in Glasgow if Celtic and Rodgers lured him to the club as a teenager.

However, it’s good to see that the Hoops are looking to build for the future themselves with the signings of youngsters Liel Abada, Liam Shaw, Osaze Urhoghide, Joey Dawson and Ciaran Dickson this summer.

In other news: McKay’s ‘top’ under-the-radar Celtic signing has already made an ‘impact’ at Lennoxtown. 

Tottenham Hotspur defender Davinson Sanchez has been one of Nuno Santo’s best-performing players since the start of the new Premier League season, even if he’s recently landed himself in hot water over his international duties.

However, since his arrival in August 2017 from Eredivisie giants Ajax, the 6 foot 2 colossus has seen his value decrease at a very alarming rate.

The 25-year-old was signed for a then club-record £42m and he was soon talked up by former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, who tipped him for some very big things.

It’s fair to say that his career has not panned out that way thus far.

“I like his personality and how he is aggressive, he is fast, he will fit for us very well. Davinson is with us because a lot of clubs were interested in him but he decided to join us,” he said to Sky Sports.

“It’s a massive opportunity because we believe he will be one of the best centre-backs in the world in the future. That is why we made the effort to try to sign him.”

Sanchez is now valued at just €20m (£18m) by CIES Football Observatory, meaning in the four years he’s been at the club, his total worth has decreased a whopping 57%, which is concerning considering he is yet to hit the peak of his career, particularly as a centre-back.

It’s even more shocking when taking into account Pochettino’s glowing praise but the reality of the matter is, the Colombian international just has not been good enough since arriving in north London.

Yes, his opening three games this campaign have been majorly positive and encouraging but that’s a needle in a haystack compared to the last few seasons.

Back in April, former Republic of Ireland star Kenny Cunningham dubbed the centre-back a “real liability” to his team following Spurs’ 2-2 draw with Newcastle, a game in which they threw away three points because of his defensive frailties.

Even more recently he has been getting plenty of stick – ex-Colombia manager Jorge Luis Pinto told ESPN F90 (via Spanish outlet Marca) that the Lilywhites defender “does not have the talent.”

Perhaps a little harsh given the £75k-per-week star has been one of Spurs’ standout players so far this campaign but it does highlight his previous and long-term struggles at the club.

Overall, chairman Daniel Levy made a big mistake with this transfer, though there is still plenty of time to salvage the decision, especially as he appears to be Nuno’s first-choice defender, despite the arrival of Cristian Romero.

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano provides exciting Spurs transfer update…

West Ham United’s hierarchy are likely to receive another takeover bid in the near future…

What’s the word?

That’s according to the ever-reliable ExWHUemployee, who dropped a fresh claim on PAI Capital’s attempts to purchase the east London outfit to supporters on his Patreon page, ‘The West Ham Way’, earlier this week.

“In other news apparently PAI Capital plan to submit another bid soon,” he said. “The club still deny they received a legitimate first offer so time will tell.”

The consortium, who have the backing of Azerbaijani millionaire Nasib Piriyev as well as club legend Tony Cottee and both the Ferdinand brothers, saw a £400m offer rejected last month, with the Irons’ majority shareholder and co-owner David Sullivan deeming them to be property developers rather than those with a genuine interest in football.

However, PAI Capital recently announced that they had reached an agreement with the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) to take control of the London Stadium should they successfully pull off a takeover.

Fans surely buzzing

This latest development should leave much of the West Ham faithful absolutely delighted as it shows that their prospective owners are not giving up anytime soon.

The relationship between the London Stadium fanbase and the club’s board has been raucous for quite some time and that much is evident in the fact that supporters group Hammers United still plan to protest against GSB before next month’s Premier League clash with Manchester United, despite the team sitting top of the table right now.

It’s not the first time that the fans have publicly shown their frustrations against the ownership either.

When the Irons were looking a likely relegation candidate during the 2019/20 season, there were anti-board banners unfurled in matches against Liverpool and Everton. One read: “Run like a circus – Owned by clowns”, whilst another said: “GSB out – Sold a dream, delivered a nightmare.”

David Moyes managed to pull off the unthinkable to steer them clear with one game to spare but the supporters were still angry with the top dogs in charge.

That summer, they sold promising academy gem Grady Diangana to West Brom, even though he was tied down to a six-year deal, and this caused further protests outside the ground.

It’s clear that many around the London Stadium would welcome new ownership, so if Ex’s claim rings true, they will be buzzing as PAI Capital will be trying to force Sullivan’s hand into a sale for a second time.

Whether it’s successful or not remains to be seen but this update is an exciting glimmer of hope.

AND in other news, West Ham eye £26m-rated “beast” as priority target, Moyes badly needs him…

Tottenham Hotspur are now reportedly targeting a move to sign Noni Madueke before the summer transfer window ends.

The Lowdown: Ex-Lilywhite

Madueke was an Academy player at Spurs, and featured for them in the U18 Premier League back in the 2016/17 season (Transfermarkt).

He left north London to join PSV’s youth system in 2018, and has since worked his way up into their first team.

The Latest: Spurs return

As per The Evening Standard, the Lilywhites are now targeting a potential move to sign Madueke back, while Mikkel Damsgaard is also a target.

It is said that they would like to add another creative player to their squad, and so have turned their attentions towards Madueke.

The Verdict: Must sign

Bringing Madueke back to THFC is a no brainer given just how much he has kicked on since leaving.

The England U21 international scored nine goals and made a further eight assists in 32 games in total over all competitions in the 2020/21 term, which is very impressive considering that he often operated on the wing (Transfermarkt).

Described as a ‘very explosive’ player by former PSV midfielder Tommie van de Leegte, the possibility of having both Madueke and Son Heung-Min on opposite flanks is a truly frightening concept for Nuno Espirito Santo’s team.

Nonetheless, at just 19 years of age, he still has so much potential, as former England youth manager Aidy Boothroyd compared his rise to that of Phil Foden back in March and current PSV boss Roger Schmidt hailed him as a ‘special’ talent who can become one of the world’s best.

This looks like a no brainer for Spurs.

In other news, find out which international star Tottenham have now made an offer for here!

Celtic have opened talks with Manchester City for defender Ko Itakura, according to journalist Ekrem Konur.

The Lowdown: Itakura profiled

Itakura is 24 years of age and is into the final 12 months of his Etihad contract.

The Japan international, who is primarily a centre-back but can also play as a holding midfielder, is yet to make a senior appearance for City.

Itakura has spent the last two seasons on loan at Dutch side FC Groningen and has been described as ‘incredibly fast’ during his time in the Netherlands.

He is on £10,000-a-week in Manchester.

The Latest: Celtic talks

According to Konur, ‘Celtic have started official talks’ with City over a potential move.

Konur also claims that the Hoops have made direct contact with the player, who is not in Pep Guardiola’s plans.

The journalist shared the news on Twitter on Wednesday afternoon, which is available to view here.

The Verdict: Sign

Another centre-back appears to be needed at Parkhead this summer.

Carl Starfelt and Osaze Urhoghide have already arrived, however, Ange Postecoglou only has Stephen Welsh alongside the pair, with Christopher Jullien out injured.

Having five senior centre-backs should be enough for Postecoglou throughout the season, and the manager could then allow Urhoghide and possibly Welsh to feature regularly for Celtic B when Jullien returns.

Itakura would also give Postecoglou an option in front of the back four if needed, so his versatility could come in handy.

In other news: Celtic submit offer to sign 6 ft 3 powerhouse for Ange, claims journalist. 

Crystal Palace are in the market for a new forward player before the current window closes, but they’ll have to move onto another target after missing out on PSV Eindhoven star Noni Madueke.

What’s the story?

The Eagles were one of several Premier League clubs believed to be keen on securing the 19-year-old’s services this summer, but PSV have confirmed the teenager has signed a contract extension keeping him at the club until 2025.

Director of Football Affairs John de Jong expressed his delight that Madueke will stay longer in Eindhoven, saying: “There was a lot of interest from foreign clubs in Noni, but we wanted to connect Noni to PSV even longer.

“After good talks with Noni and his family, he succeeded in extending his contract until 2025. We as a club are very happy that Noni will stay, and we look forward to a successful collaboration.”

Patrick Vieira will be gutted

Madueke’s decision to remain at the Philips Stadion is likely to leave new Palace manager Patrick Vieira feeling gutted.

The capital club have failed to win even score a goal in the opening three games of the Frenchman’s reign and scoring goals is something the England Under-21 international has excelled at since arriving in Dutch football.

In 45 appearances for Roger Schmidt’s charges, Madueke has bagged 15 goals and laid on a further nine assists for his teammates, earning praise from several impressed onlookers, including former PSV ace Tommie van de Leegte.

“He’s fast and has the capability to trick his opponent. He brings creativity and is very explosive in his actions,” said Van de Leegte (via Goal).

With Andros Townsend departing Selhurst Park over the summer, Vieira is currently lacking a natural right-winger in his first-team squad, an issue he admitted he wants to solve before August 31st.

“When you look at the squad, we are maybe a little bit more light on numbers, and we are working hard to improve the squad [with] the window are still open. We will try to bring players that can improve our squad,” Vieira revealed in a pre-match press conference.

“I think where we are maybe a little bit more short is upfront and in the midfield, I think it would be good to reinforce those positions.”

However, the former Nice boss will have to set his sights on other options after Madueke committed his future to PSV, leaving him short on time to secure another forward’s signature.

And, in other news…Parish must sanction Crystal Palace move for £10.8m-rated gem, Vieira needs him 

Leicester City are interested in a move for West Bromwich Albion playmaker Matheus Pereira, as reported by the Mirror.

The Lowdown: West Bromwich Albion prepare for Sky Bet Championship life

Looking towards the new term, West Brom manager Valerien Ismael will be desperate to win promotion at the first attempt following his predecessor’s relegation from the top-flight.

Acquiring some top talent immediately will be crucial to prospective success, however recuperating large fees for assets like Pereira will also be a matter of fundamental importance for the 45-year-old.

Tapping into the latter philosophy, the Baggies now look set to field attention from the Premier League for their star man.

The Latest: Pereira courting attention from Leicester City; multiple other sides keen

Not being utilised by West Brom in their pre-season programme, the Brazilian is said to be prompting the Foxes to consider a move for his services [Mirror].

Pereira is under contract until 2024 with the Midlands outfit, though looks set to leave this summer for pastures new.

Al Hilal, Liverpool and West Ham United are all believed to be monitoring his situation keenly.

Reports last week suggested the Baggies expect around £25m to part ways with the 25 year-old this summer.

The Latest: Bidding war for Pereira?

Looking unlikely to keep Pereira at the Hawthorns beyond this window, a potential bidding war for his signature would be a big boost for Ismael and co.

In 2020/21, the playmaker enjoyed a superb campaign, registering 18 goal contributions in 34 fixtures; 12 goals and six assists [Transfermarkt].

Furthermore, Pereira caught attention with his ability to create dangerous situations, managing to record 1.8 key passes per game on average across the campaign, which was the most in the West Brom squad [WhoScored].

Once labelled as a ‘delight to watch’ by Match of the Day pundit Micah Richards, the Baggies only focus when it comes to departures at the moment should be to squeeze every penny possible out of the interest in Pereira [Birmingham Mail].

If they can secure upwards of that reported £25m price tag, that could go a long way towards building a squad capable of immediate promotion back to the big time.

In other news, West Bromwich Albion could re-sign a La Liga ace.

Queens Park Rangers have made an approach to bring Jordan Archer to the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by The Sun journalist Alan Nixon, who revealed in a post on Twitter that Mark Warburton’s side are looking to push a deal through for the recently released Middlesbrough goalkeeper in the coming weeks.

Nixon goes on to state that one of the current QPR shot-stoppers, Liam Kelly, appears to be heading to Scotland, having been linked with both Motherwell and Dundee United this summer, with Archer appearing to be the 25-year-old’s replacement in west London.

Warburton will be buzzing

While Archer has not featured a great deal for a number of his most recent clubs, making four Scottish Premiership appearances for Motherwell and five Championship appearances for Middlesbrough last season, the 28-year-old boasts a wealth of Championship experience, as well as impressing for Millwall when given a shot as a team’s first choice ‘keeper.

Indeed, over his 45 second-tier appearances for the Lions back in 2017/18, the £270k-rated man kept a whopping 18 clean sheets, as well as making an average of 2.9 saves and making 0.2 successful runs out per game, in addition to stopping a total of 131 shots over the course of the season.

These metrics saw the man Neil Harris dubbed an “excellent” player earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.81, ranking him as Millwall’s 13th-best performer in the Championship that year, playing a huge role in the club securing a highly impressive eighth-place finish.

As such, while Seny Dieng looks likely to be Warburton’s first-choice goalkeeper for the Rs next season, the addition of the £4.1k-per-week Archer would appear to provide the 26-year-old with both fantastic competition and back up for his spot between the sticks, something that will undoubtedly leave the 58-year-old QPR boss buzzing.

In other news: QPR transfer update emerges on “explosive” £10k-p/w machine, Warburton would love him

Celtic’s swoop for free agent Bosun Lawal is ‘done’, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Lawal spotted at Parkhead

Lawal’s contract at Watford expired earlier this month, making him a free agent. However, Celtic will have to pay a compensation fee to the Hornets.

The 18-year-old Irish midfielder was actually spotted at Parkhead on Wednesday in what has been a busy few days for the Hoops on the transfer front.

Celtic have signed winger Liel Abada and appear to be edging closer to a move for centre-back Carl Starfelt from Rubin Kazan.

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The Latest: Lawal deal ‘done’

According to Football Insider, who were informed by a Celtic source, the relative paperwork has been completed and a move for Lawal is ‘done’.

The Hoops are yet to officially announce a transfer but a move is wrapped up with a medical completed before he made the journey to Glasgow.

Celtic will pay Watford a six-figure compensation fee despite Lawal being a free agent, due to development costs.

The Verdict: Building for the long-term

Celtic have already signed Abada, Liam Shaw, Joey Dawson and Osaze Urhoghide this summer, and it now seems as if Lawal can join that list.

The oldest of those five mentioned is just 21 years of age, so it appears as if the Hoops are building for the future.

Troy Deeney hailed Lawal just two months ago, labelling his ability to go past a man as ‘effortless’. The forward tipped the midfielder to go on and have a successful career, and hopefully, he’ll hit his prime in Glasgow with Celtic.

In other news: Source drops Celtic transfer development after Starfelt update; McKay trying to work some magic.