Could this Bostonian, Italian-American billionaire be the saviour of the Newcastle United takeover saga?

Last week the news broke that the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, along with Reuben Brothers and PCP Capital Partners, stepped back from the £300 million buyout of Mike Ashley, who remains keen to remove United from his business portfolio.

And while positive noises emanate from one of the three main parties in the consortium, there is supported little by the others.

While it is not known if the consortium have officially withdrawn themselves from the Premier League’s owners and directors assessment process, it was not something the group did initially, raising hopes and suspicion aplenty of Tyneside.

But it is understood the resurrection of a deal, albeit with 100% commitment remaining from Ashley, is thought to be unlikely at this stage.

So that opens the doors to others, with Sports Direct tycoon Ashley desperate for a swift exit, and reports in two Italian publications claim one could be ready to test the water.

Tuttomercatoweb claim a £540 million deal to buy AS Roma from James Pallotta is set to be announced, with The Friedkin Group taking control.

And they suggest Roma chairman Pallotta, a Massachusetts-native, could well reinvest the money made from the sale in a buyout of Newcastle United.

That theory is also suggested in Corriere dello Sport.

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