New Newcastle United takeover claim made amid furore on Tyneside

A proposed Saudi Arabia-backed takeover of the club collapsed this week after the Premier League failed to make a decision, or give a timeframe for a decision, on its approval.

The would-be owners say they were ready to invest £250million in the club over a five-year period.

And an online petition calling for an “independent review” of the Premier League’s takeover process already has more than 41,000 signatures.

Lee Charnley, United’s managing director, issued a rare statement in the wake of the consortium’s withdrawal from the proposed deal which stated that owner Mike Ashley remained “100% committed” to the deal. Saudi sources, however, have insisted that the move was “not a negotiating tactic”, while the Premier League have made no comment.

The collapse of the £300million deal has opened the door for American businessman Henry Mauriss, who has been linked with the club since June.

Ashley will give California-based Mauriss, chief executive officer of Clear TV and principal of Credit America Corporation, until August 14 to reach an agreement for the club, according to the Sunday Mirror.

Mauriss, it's claimed, is willing to pay £350million for the club – £50million more than was agreed with Amanda Staveley’s group in April – and Chris Ronnie, an “associate” of Ashley, is reportedly “steering” negotiations between the two parties.

Meanwhile, Newcastle’s players are due back in training later this month ahead of the new Premier League season, which is set to start on September 12.