It’s been almost 18 months since PCP Partners, the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia and the Reuben brothers agreed to buy the Magpies for £300million before the Premier League (EPL) refused to approve the deal.
Mike Ashley has battled to resurrect the deal and has launched two legal challenges against the EPL – arbitration and an anti-competition case. The latter will soon be heard by the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT), to determine if the case can go further.
But this takeover saga started well before the Saudi-bid when Ashley again put the club up for sale in October 2017.
From the first beginnings to the very latest – scroll and click through the pages to see our takeover timeline:
13. Friday, July 26 - Kenyon booted into touch by Ashley
Ashley: "Peter Kenyon convinced me last Christmas that it was going to get done. I'm never doing that again. I think I could own this football club for ever. That is my new mental state." Photo: Ryan Pierse
14. Thursday, September 26 - THAT brochure & Kenyon's return
The Daily Mail reveal Kenyon is back on the scene - this time with GACP Sports and Joseph DaGrosa. A 46-page brochure is circulated to the press - and although detailed, it is littered with basic errors. Photo: NICOLAS TUCAT
15. Friday, September 27 - A return to scepticism
United sources are sceptical about the Kenyon-led bid and the money behind it. Photo: NICOLAS TUCAT
16. Sunday, September 29 - Where is the money?
Journalist Martin Samuel, who revealed Ashley's thoughts on the takeover in the summer, suggests Peter Kenyon does not have the cash to complete a takeover, even side-by-side with his current investors. Photo: Matthew Lewis