And if and when that is confirmed, Steve Bruce can begin to look ahead to the summer as he searches to bolster his squad to try and avoid another relegation battle next season.
Over the previous two summer transfer windows, Mike Ashley, by his standards, has spent reasonably big but due to the impact of Covid-19, and hopes of a takeover still lingering, Bruce could have limited funds to work with.
If that is the case, the Magpies head coach will be required to box clever and potentially explore the free agent market, just like he did last summer with the arrivals of Jeff Hendrick and Ryan Fraser.
We take a look at some of the top-flight players set to be out of contract at the end of the season – would you like to see any of these at St James’s Park?
13. Ahmed Elmohamady
The Egyptian is so good that Steve Bruce has signed him for Sunderland, Hull City and Aston Villa. If anything, it’s a surprise he hasn’t been snapped up by Newcastle yet but perhaps now is their chance… Photo: TIM KEETON
14. Mamadou Sakho
The former Liverpool defender, who was signed by Palace for £24million in 2017, hasn’t featured since October, a run that is set to cap off a miserable end to his Selhurst Park career. Photo: Laurence Griffiths
15. Patrick Van Aanholt
A former Newcastle United loanee having joined on a month’s loan during the club’s 2009/10 Championship title-winning season. The ex-Sunderland left-back isn’t expected to be short of offers this summer. Photo: Naomi Baker
16. Josh King
King is currently on loan at Everton from Bournemouth but all of his nine appearances have come from the substitutes bench. Newcastle have been linked with the Norwegian in the past and have enjoyed doing business with the Cherries in recent years. Photo: Michael Regan