'SAUDI PROJECT IS OVER' - RICHARD KEYS CLAIMS PIF 'LOOKING TO SELL' NEWCASTLE UNITED FOR £1BN IN BOMBSHELL UPDATE

Newcastle United remain adamant that the Public Investment Fund are committed to the long-term project.

Disgraced former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys has claimed the Public Investment Fund are actively looking to sell Newcastle United.

Well-connected in the region, the 68-year-old has worked for Qatari broadcaster beIN Sports since 2013. Keys was a vocal critic of the Saudi-backed takeover when the bid stalled - and temporarily broke down - in 2020.

An inquest is underway on Tyneside after Newcastle lost to bitter rivals Sunderland at St James’ Park on Sunday. Adding salt into the wounds, Keys has declared that PIF are giving up on the project and have placed a £1billion price tag to potential suitors.

‘Saudis want £1bn’ - Richard Keys

“Another whisper I picked up recently - and I don’t think this will come as a surprise to anybody - I’m told the Saudis are looking to sell Newcastle,” he wrote in his personal blog. “Regulars know I’ve been saying for some time the project was over. Apparently, there are interested parties, but the Saudis want £1billion. £500million is nearer the mark.”

Newcastle United stance

Newcastle insiders are adamant that PIF remain in constant dialogue with the key shot-callers at St James’ Park. David Hopkinson - appointed CEO in September - runs the club on a day-to-day basis but any major decisions need to be signed off by the Saudi backers.

However, there has been a growing sense from supporters that the Middle Eastern investment fund have become distant from events at the Magpies. Fans are yet to be given an ultimate resolution on St James’ Park’s future despite being told to expect an update in “early 2025”.

Noises around the mooted training ground development have also gone quiet in recent months. While messaging from the top remains bullish, it is becoming a case of “actions, not words” that has left a section of Newcastle supporters to question their intention.

David Hopkinson makes 2030 vow

Speaking last month, new Toon CEO Hopkinson reiterated that the majority owners are ambitious about Newcastle. In words that have since become a hot topic on Tyneside, he doubled down on his mission to propel the club to global stardom by 2030.

“The No.1 thing I talk to the ownership about is ambition,” Hopkinson told talkSPORT. “That’s the magic word here, having the correct ambition.

“We have total alignment on that. This is a club that, by 2030, will be consistently contending for the top prizes in global football. We have a lot of wood to chop between here and there. When I see Newcastle United, everywhere I look, I see opportunity.”

- Charlie Bennett

MAN UTD TOLD RÚBEN AMORIM 'HAS ALREADY RESIGNED' AHEAD OF JIM RATCLIFFE MEETING

Ruben Amorim has found little success in the Premier League since arriving at Manchester United and broadcaster Richard Keys reckons the Portuguese coach is searching for an exit

Richard Keys made his opinion on Man Utd's manager clear

Ruben Amorim "all but resigned" with his comments following Manchester United's defeat by West Ham United, according to Richard Keys. Amorim accepted that he may not be the man for the Red Devils if the club's Premier League form continues into next season.

"I don't want to talk about the players," he said. "I'm talking about myself and the culture in the club and the culture in the team. I have that feeling.

“We need to change that and we need to be really strong in the summer and to be brave. Because we cannot have a season like this next year. If the feeling is still here, we should give the space to different persons."

And beIN Sports anchor Keys believes such a stance vindicates his belief that Amorim is angling for the sack. Mirror Football understands that the Old Trafford hierarchy will review Amorim’s position at the end of the season.

United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada and the remainder of the club's hierarchy will judge the Portuguese coach's role even if United beat Tottenham in the Europa League final. Amorim has already conceded the difficulty Champions League football would offer next term.

"How long have I been saying Ruben Amorim has been trying to get the sack? You all laughed at me," Keys wrote in his latest blog.

"Well, now what? Because this weekend, he all but resigned. It's hard to interpret his post-match comments after the West Ham defeat any other way."

Keys had plenty of criticism for United owner Ratcliffe, too. The broadcaster believes the 13-times Premier League champions are stilling going backwards as a club.

"Here's the bottom line. United are hopeless. Embarrassing. They're still going backwards," he added. "The Jim Reaper has ripped the heart out of the club, inflicting damage and hurt from top to bottom, whilst making one bad decision after another, and it's coming back to bite him and the brains trust.

Ruben Amorim has admitted that he may not be at Old Trafford next season if results don't improve(Image: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

"Amorim realised he'd walked into a mess pretty quickly after arriving at OT. He knows it's not going to get better any time soon.

"He's not working for football people. He's working for accountants and stats men, who don't understand what he wants or needs. I'm not convinced some even care.

"If I'm right - and Amorim wants out, either now or a couple of months into next season - how can United commit to him? How can they gamble spending money on players he might want?"

- Scott Trotter