George Caulkin shares what he knows about takeover talks after claims of Saudi 'U-turn'
Reputable North-East reporter George Caulkin has broken his recent silence on the takeover front this week, insisting that 'talks are still ongoing'.
Caulkin - who recently moved from The Times to join The Athletic - has become one of the areas most reliable journalists, with his contacts landing him an in-depth interview with Amanda Staveley after her failed takeover bid in 2018.
Two years on, talk of her bid to buy the club via the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia has gone quiet - with the Shields Gazette even reporting yesterday that the Saudi's plan a U-turn to focus on Manchester United instead.
That said, Caulkin states talks are 'still ongoing', saying we're now in a 'fingers crossed' stage after last month's leak 'put things back a bit' - but also insisting that the lack of updates is down to the fact there's been a real 'shut down' when it comes to information getting out (which is the way it should be after all).
Here's what he's had to say when speaking about it all on The Athletic's latest 'Pod on the Tyne' podcast:
"They're still ongoing.
"I think the best thing to say about that is that everything is shut down in terms of information getting out - and I think that's the right way for things to be."
"I do think, as we feared, that the big leak (from the Wall Street Journal last month) did have a knock-on effect in terms of what was happening and has put things back a bit.
"As a journalist I should be reporting news, but as a human being and as someone that wants Newcastle to be sold, I think the best thing we can actually say is just let them get on with it and let's hope there is a positive outcome.
"I'm not living my life on tenterhooks waiting because I think something is going to happen imminently and would advise everyone to do that.
"Just get on with it and presume nothing is going to happen - but they're still talking, so fingers crossed."
Some slightly reassuring comments from Caulkin and, above all else, some good advice for Newcastle United fans - act like it's not going to happen, but know that they're still discussing a deal and should be left to do so.
Listen to the podcast in full below:
