Newcastle United news and transfers LIVE - Fresh Amanda Staveley takeover rumours; Watford to battle Magpies for Slimani

Takeover update: new company formed?

Here’s the latest.

Leon Best - big injury

Reports that Leon Best is facing a battle to save his career after a nasty injury over the weekend - Charlton boss Karl Robinson has spoken about it.

It’s not good. Obviously when you get a contact injury you have to wait 48 hours for it to settle down and then you can scan it with a little more clarity.But yes he has had a knee problem and had a cruciate on that knee as well. In the last two two times he has played here [the Valley] he’s looked a very good striker. And for it to be cut short so quickly in the last game. and again here, it’s something I feel very sorry for him for.

NUFC takeover talk

Contrary to reports over Christmas, we confirmed on Sunday takeover negotiations remained ongoing between Amanda Staveley and NUFC. Staveley setting up a new company that looks suspiciously like the holding company she used to buy Manchester City has sparked fresh talk that an announcement is imminent. Chris Waugh has spoken to Staveley’s people and we’ll have an update from that very soon.

But wilder social media talk of an announcement today or this week looks just that.

Premier League sources say the fit and proper person’s test hasn’t begun and until that happens, it’s difficult to see how there’d a grand announcement. This one will run and run....

West Ham failed bid. . .

Rumours that West Ham failed with a bid for Jonjo Shelvey and now Joe Allen.

Takeover rumours. . .

We’re checking this one out with various sources, so stick with us but lots of intrigue arose last night after a quick search on Companies House revealed a new company has been set-up by Amanda Staveley.

Rumours that Mike Ashley could be close to selling Newcastle United have gathered steam after it was revealed that Amanda Staveley has set up a new company. Ms Staveley has been circling the club for months, but it looks as though a deal could soon be on the cards after the investor set up a company called Cantervale Limited. According to details on Companies House, Cantervale Limited is set up as a business specialising in “financial intermediation”, meaning it could be used as a holding account for Newcastle United. No official details about the use of the company or the sale of Newcastle United have been issued.

Gossip: Danny Ings and Islam Slimani

Reports today suggest that United have made bids for Liverpool’s Danny Ings and Leicester City’s Islam Slimani but as we understand it, United have yet to move further on with what is a very keen interest in both strikers.

Chris Waugh on this week. . .

Rafa Benitez is unlikely to hold an intensive week of first-team training given the hectic festive schedule. Instead, there will be periods of rest intertwined with normal sessions as he looks to give his key players time to recuperate following their festive exerts. Fringe players and Under-23s could also be given a more prominent role in training, with Benitez expected to rotate his side for Luton Town’s visit to St James’ Park

How the table looks. . .

Some interesting results in the Premier League last night. West Ham United beat West Bro 2-1 thanks to Andy Carroll, while Crystal Palace beat Southampton 2-1.

Gossip: West Ham after midfielder

The Daily Mail reports that West Ham are willing to pay £15m to sign Wales international Joe Allen from Stoke.

Steve Mclaren on Newcastle United

Speaking to Sky Sports, the former Newcastle head coach has credited United, Benitez and admitted it’s not easy to work with the hierarchy.

I think they are okay. I think he knows what he is doing. I know at Newcastle you have always got a battle behind the scenes. I think what Rafa has done very well is he has got the fans, the 52,000 of them, the travelling supporters, they think he is the Messiah, so he has got a great advantage at that football club.

Gossip: Cenk Tosun

There appears to have been a slight hiccup in the deal between Everton and Besiktas for the Turkish striker Cenk Tosun. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that Newcastle will ride in and steal the Toffees’ thunder, they’re hoping they can complete a deal this week as the Guardian reports.

Everton will attempt to complete the signing of the Besiktas striker Cenk Tosun today at a meeting with the club’s president, Fikret Orman. A delegation club will meet Orman in London following his return from a holiday in South Africa. Everton had hoped to complete the £25m deal over the weekend with the director of football, Steve Walsh, travelling to Istanbul on Friday to that end, only for Besiktas to increase the asking price by £2m because of the rising cost of Tosun’s potential replacement.

Watford target Leicester City striker?

We know that Newcastle have asked about Leicester’s Islam Slimani but it’s likely that the price tag will scare the hierarchy off but not those at Watford, according to the Mirror.

Marco Silva feels he will win the battle to sign Leicester striker Islam Slimani. The new Watford boss has been in the hunt for the £30million buy — who he has worked with before at Sporting Lisbon — for some time as he seeks to solve his side’s problems scoring goals. His Newcastle counterpart Rafa Benitez is also keen on Slimani, who wants out of the King Power Stadium.

Perez on building momentum

He said after scoring the winner against Stoke:

“It’s massive. Every team tries to protect themselves and get points and be strong in their own stadium.

“Against two important teams, we have done it. It’s really important. We will now focus on our form at home - that can be much better - but we have to keep pushing.

“This [FA Cup] game could be good for whoever’s playing. We’re at home. We will try to improve our form at home and get a good result and be competitive.

“The next league game is also at home against Swansea, so it’s going to be two important weeks. We have to be ready for it because we need to get more points. It’s going to be important.”

Full story is here: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ayoze-perez-how-newcastle-can-14104817

Recap of yesterday's transfer gossip

Transfer window was only in its second day but there’s plenty of news floating about which we’ll of course continue to monitor. Including:

• Cenk Tosun’s move to Everton is in doubt, with Besiktas reportedly upping their asking price to £27m
• Real Madrid are open to selling Kiko Casilla in January, having blocked the goalkeeper’s move to Newcastle in the summer
• Chelsea boss Antonio Conte says he will only allow players to leave Chelsea this month if they sign replacements first, casting doubt over Newcastle’s chances of landing Kenedy
• Rivals Huddersfield have made an early march in transfer window. They’ve secured a coup signing of Terence Kongolo from Monaco
• Steve Harper wants to see Freddie Woodman make his Newcastle debut in the FA Cup against Luton on Saturday
• Matt Le Tissier believes Newcastle need a new striker, midfielder and goalkeeper in the January window

Welcome

Hello and welcome to today’s live blog where we’ll be following all the day’s top news, views and transfer gossip around NUFC.

Here’s the top stories on the site right now:

• Rafa’s rotation, unity and a culture change: How Newcastle resurrected their season over Christmas
• Everything is Black and White Podcast - How Rafa Benitez got it right over Christmas; Luton preview
• How Shaqiri’s display offered reminder of why this Newcastle squad is so different from 2015/16 side
• The remarkable Newcastle stat that shows Rafa Benitez is doing what he needs to do this season
• Newcastle United waiting on Chelsea signing a replacement before loan target Kenedy can leave Blues