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The Saudi takeover of Newcastle United is expected to be approved after the Gulf state settled its piracy dispute with Premier League broadcast partner beIN Sports.

Sources close to the process have indicated that the lifting of a four-year ban of Qatar-based beIN Sports being shown in Saudi, as well as the removal of all forms of piracy in the country, should now pave the way for the £300million deal to be signed off.

The proposed buyout was abandoned in the summer of 2020 when the consortium - led by Saudi's Public Investment Fund (PIF) and including Amanda Staveley and the Reuben brothers - were unable to prove separation between themselves and the Saudi state, headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Mike Ashley's 14-year reign as owner of Newcastle United looks to be coming to an end 

The takeover is backed by Saudi's Public Investment Fund, led by Prince Mohamed bin Salman

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley opened arbitration proceedings against the Premier League last year in a bid to revive the deal and that case is set to be heard in January.

However, it is understood there is potentially no need for that to take place after Wednesday's news of the piracy issues between beIN and Saudi having been resolved.

Attention will now turn to the Premier League, who had objected to the takeover on the grounds of the Saudi state allegedly being behind the broadcast piracy of their product over several years. 

But a source told Sportsmail: 'If all of this had been done 18 months ago, the takeover would have been signed off.

'The Premier League could not approve a takeover whereby one of its member clubs would be owned by a state it believed to be guilty of piracy against the League and one of its broadcast partners.

'That was why the buyers had to prove separation from the Saudi state. But that was almost impossible, especially given the revelations about Mohammed bin Salman texting Boris Johnson and pressurising him to influence the deal.

'Now, though, with the issue of piracy resolved, it is unlikely that arbitration is needed. There is no rule which says a state cannot be connected to the ownership of a football club.

'Piracy was, and always has been, the biggest obstacle to this takeover. There is now very little reason for the Premier League to stop the deal going through.'

It is thought the Premier League would have likely won the arbitration case, especially in light of Sportsmail revealing in April that Bin Salman had lobbied Mr Johnson last year in attempt to get the deal done.

The Premier League could still insist on the arbitration hearing, although sources say they have always wanted to avoid such a scenario given the fear of details being aired in public. This latest development gives them a reason to sidestep that prospect.

It appears there could soon be a new ownership group in charge of Newcastle United 

We understand as recently as last week beIN Sports sent a list of websites to Saudi officials, informing them of ongoing piracy. Within days all of those websites were shut down and assurances have been made that a $1billion (£737m) damages claim will also be settled. 

If, as anticipated, the Premier League does give the takeover the green light, it will be left to Ashley and the buyers to finalise the price and particulars of the deal, and there remains a strong willingness on both sides for that to happen.

PIF is set to take an 80 per cent stake with Staveley and British businessmen David and Simon Reuben halving the remaining 20 per cent. 

The takeover would bring to an end Ashley's 14-year ownership of the club, who are currently second bottom of the Premier League and without a win in seven matches under Steve Bruce. 

beIn Sports have settled a piracy row in Saudi Arabia, paving the way for the deal to be done 

The Newcastle United Supporters Trust this week revealed that 94 per cent of its members want Bruce to resign, and a takeover would almost certainly bring about a change of manager.

The buyers, though, have always insisted that investment would be gradual and that their immediate focus would be on the infrastructural improvement of the club, as well as various other projects in the region.

Meanwhile, Ashley's company, St James' Holdings, has also filed an anti-competition lawsuit against the Premier League and that case was heard last week.

No timeframe was given for the ruling of the Competition Appeals Tribunal, during which it was claimed some top-flight clubs had let the Premier League know they were opposed to the takeover. The Premier League were not available for comment.