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Welcome to today’s Newcastle United live blog for Friday, October 20.

Rafa Benitez may have taken his United side into the top half of the Premier League table, but all the talk now is about a potential takeover.

The club are officially up for sale, with Mike Ashley believed to be keen on a quick deal with any potential new buyers. Amanda Staveley's hopes to buy are advancing quickly, and she is now in a due diligence period with the club.

We'll have all the latest news, plus reaction and analysis on the developments.

As ever we want to hear from you, so please send us your thoughts over Facebook at www.facebook.com/chroniclenufc/ or on Twitter at @ChronicleNUFC.

Join Andrew Musgrove, Mark Douglas and Craig Johns for live updates throughout the day as we bring you all the latest news, views and transfer gossip on all things Newcastle United.

Signing off

Thanks for joining us today.

There has been plenty going on - whether it be about the takeover, tomorrow’s clash with Crystal Palace, or another pundit claiming United fans have ‘unrealistic expectations’ - we have covered it all and we will do it all again tomorrow.

Join us for all of the latest news and updates, as well as live coverage of Newcastle vs Crystal Palace.

Until then, we will leave you with today’s most-read stories.

1. ‘The potential is massive’: Rafa Benitez speaks as Newcastle United put up for sale

2. Full transcript: Simon Jordan’s astonishing claims about Newcastle and fan expectations

3. Simon Jordan embarrassed by ex-Newcastle legends over his claims on Sky Sports

4. Amanda Staveley and PCP Partners checking out Newcastle United’s accounts

5. Amanda Staveley wants central role if she buys Newcastle - and is enthusiastic about takeover

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u23s 1-0 down

Blackburn take the lead...

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Remember Willian Jose?

Newcastle were linked with a summer move for the Real Sociedad forward, but a transfer never materialised.

He remains at the Basque outfit and created history last night by scoring FOUR goals in their win over Vardar.

Full story below...

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/remember-willian-jose-newcastle-target-13792314

Real Sociedad's Willian Jose
Real Sociedad's Willian Jose (Image: Getty Images)
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u23s remain goalless

Although the young Magpies have come close to scoring...

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Rafa Benitez on the potential of Newcastle

The Spaniard claims Newcastle have an abundance of untapped potential.

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u23s under way

Jack Colback is skippering the young Magpies this evening.

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Up for sale?

Rafa’s playing coy.

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Betting odds. . .

Fancy a flutter. . .

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Strong U23s side

Big game for some.

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Rolando Aarons wants to play

And he’s even asked Rafa to play him in the reserves to keep him sharp! This is what Rafa had to say!

He needs to play. I have a choice to make with the first XI, then those on the bench and then those in the stand.

Read the full story here!

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Roy Hodgson on Newcastle

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson

Newcastle are a good footballing team. I watched them at Southampton and they were every bit as good as I expected. They are a well-organised team with a clear idea of what they want to do with and without the ball. We have to give exactly the same performance that we did against Chelsea.

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Rafa on the club's potential

He knows the sleeping giant it is.

If I decided to stay it is because the potential of the club, the fans, the city, it is massive. If we do well (on the pitch) it will be easier. You can attract people for the potential but if you are doing well it is even easier.

You can read it here

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Amanda Staveley at St James' Park?

As Chris Waugh hinted earlier, Staveley WILL NOT be at the game tomorrow and now this from Craig Hope.

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Joselu on the fan's chant

Have you heard? He scores one, he scores two. . . And he is Joselu’s take on it from NUFC TV.

It is a very funny song. I am very happy about it.

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Takeover latest

This from Chris Waugh.

My understanding, there’s at least four non disclosure agreements been signed. Mike Ashley’s lawyer came out yesterday and confirmed there were parties even BEFORE Monday talking to the club and more have come forward since. Amanada Staveley and her group are now carrying out due diligence which could take anywhere between two and three months [to complete] - I expect it to take three to six weeks for Newcastle given the size of the business and how detailed they want it to be.

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Chris Waugh on tomorrow's XI

Will Rafa Benitez make the changes?

Dwight Gayle is not going to be involved. Rafa Benitez confirmed there is a calf injury, which is going to keep him out this weekend. He says, it’s not serious and although he didn’t give a timescale on it - it’s not a worry. Haidara is back in training but I don’t expect him to be in the match-day squad - even if he was fully fit I wouldn’t expect him to make that 18.


In terms of Mitrovic, he’s almost certainly going to be on the bench because Newcastle will need a second striker but I can’t see Mitrovic starting. Mbemba? Depends what Benitez wants to go with - with Lejeune now back and having played Manquillo at left-back; he’s a lot of options there.


In terms of Lejeune, my gut instinct says he’ll continue there.

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Why the planes might be here

Stand down, plane spotters:

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Simon Jordan gets it very wrong

This from Sean McCormick.

Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan is facing a backlash from Newcastle fans and some of their legends for comments he made about the club last night - and rightly so.

Read the full story here.

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Who plays in goal?

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has a decision to make. Julian Speroni or Wayne Hennessey?

That is something we have got to make a decision on. “It is good that he is now fit and ready to play. I have now got to make a decision. Do I stick with Speroni, who took his place on Saturday? Or do I put him straight back in the team? You will have to wait until Saturday to find out what that decision is. We tend to name the team earlier than I guess some managers or coaches do, certainly we have a meeting tomorrow at lunchtime and we’ll announce the team then.

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Teams agree deal. . .

Newcastle and Watford have agreed on a cut price deal for tickets. This from the Hertfordshire Mercury

Watford fans travelling to Newcastle United next month will pay less for their tickets thanks to a deal between the two clubs. The two sides have agreed to cut the price of all away tickets at both fixtures between the clubs by five pounds this season.

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Chris Waugh on Rafa Benitez

Waughy has been speaking about Rafa Benitez and his press conference.

Q - What did Rafa say when asked about the sale of the club?

A- He replied with ‘is it’, which was a bit of joke because he realised every question were going to be takeover related and he did what we expected; he straight batted it. He said: ‘I have no influence over that whatsoever at the moment. My focus is on Crystal Palace.’ He claims that he hasn’t heard any of the players talk about it - he says he hasn’t heard any of them discuss but accepts they may have done privately, just not in front of him.

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UAE plane spotted at NCL Airport

Anyone up for some (more) plane spotting?

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WATCH: Chris Waugh on Facebook Live talking takeover and Rafa

Chris Waugh is doing a Facebook Live now. Watch it here.

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NUFC on TV

NUFC on TV....

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Simon Jordan on United

Clueless.

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Pundits predictions. . .

Here we go.

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Perez is working hard. . .

And can see the benefit.

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Manquillo feels right at home

The Spanish full-back has been speaking about life on Tyneside - this from NUFC TV.

That’s why I’m here, why I wanted to sign this three-year contract. I need that stability, I need to find a home, and a place where I can settle in and develop. Starting at a new club every year was a bit crazy, because wherever you go, you start from zero. It’s really important for me to find that stability. It was a crucial aspect of my decision. You might finish a season really strongly, playing, consolidated in the team and the starting XI, but when you go to another club you have to make up a lot of ground. You have to get to know your city, your colleagues, your manager. In a sense, it’s as if all that progress you made, fighting your way into the team, is lost. Every time you join a new club you want to show them what you are about, show them what you can give, what type of player you are, and find your place in the starting XI. When you keep changing clubs every year, it can become a very tiresome process.

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Benitez on Townsend

Rafa admits he wanted to keep Andros.

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Mr Dyer, you're so wrong

Another ‘pundit’ with a very misguided view of Tyneside.

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