JAMAAL LASCELLES admits Newcastle takeover talk has left him keenly checking Twitter for updates – and for rumours of moves for Gareth Bale and Philippe Coutinho.
The Toon skipper and fans are waiting to see if the Amanda Staveley-led Saudi Arabian consortium’s £300million takeover will go through.
Newcastle skipper Jamaal Lascelles is eagerly awaiting news on a mooted £300million takeover of the clubCredit: AP:Associated Press
This week bid supporters were given a boost with Trade Secretary Liz Truss reportedly telling an MP that the UK government will not block the move.
The Daily Mail claim Truss told International Trade Select Committee chair Angus MacNeil, that the deal is to be decided by the Premier League.
And while the bid drags on, Lascelles admits the prospect of a mega-money splurge for the likes of Bale and Co has him excited.
Lascelles told Sportsmail: “It seemed like a fantastic thing from what I was first reading on Twitter.
“At first I was seeing us linked with Gareth Bale and Philippe Coutinho and all this stuff.
“But the longer it goes on… well you don’t necessarily doubt it but you realise there is no point every day waking up and just refreshing Twitter.
“So you just get on with your job. If it happens, it happens and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t.
Newcastle have had two good results since Premier League football returned following a hiatus caused by the Covid-19 outbreak.
The club, who are 13th, beat Sheffield United 3-0 last Sunday, with Joelinton ending his 10-month goal drought.
Lascelles has questioned whether a takeover could mean “a whole new squad and new manager” for NewcastleCredit: PA:Press Association
And they drew 1-1 against Aston Villa on Wednesday with Dwight Gayle on target for the Magpies.
On Sunday Newcastle take on Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-final.
The Etihad giants’ transformation into Premier League contenders, with three title wins in seven years, followed the club’s takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group.
New owners at Newcastle might give the Tyneside giants financial clout to compete with the likes of City.
But there is a question over whether it could potentially lead to a change in playing staff.
Lascelles added: “If people come in are they going to bring a whole new squad and a new manager?
“Or are they going to come in and just do up the training ground and add a few players?
“It’s a tough one because as players we don’t know if it’s a positive or a negative thing.”
For Toon boss Steve Bruce this weekend’s priority is a tricky FA Cup quarter-final encounter against City.
We have more of a winning mentality these days, we go out there trying to win rather than just trying not to lose.
Jamaal Lascelles
And a Newcastle win would be warmly welcomed by Lascelles and his team-mates with the club having not won any silverware for 51 years.
Lascelles added: “We have more of a winning mentality these days, we go out there trying to win rather than just trying not to lose.
“Manchester City have great players but also with those players they do have their own weaknesses.
“We have a big 6ft 4in striker on the bench (Andy Carroll) who is known for heading it and bullying centre-halves. And Joelintion is 6ft 3in as well.
“There is always a way to win games, whether it be with a counter-attack or set-piece. Or make it dirty. We will have some kind of gameplan, I know that.
“I don’t know too much about the FA Cup other than it would be massive to win.
“Pep Guardiola has rested players ahead of this game so he obviously sees the importance of it too.
“It would be amazing to win some silverware and I know how much the fans would appreciate it.”
Newcastle takeover will get green light with Premier League bosses set to approve £300m Saudi buyout
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
