Judge Holden

That's very interesting... Is it? How can Ashley hold out for anything else if the deal is already done, signed and with the PL? What makes you think Ashley can't pull out? If there's an extra 50M on the table, I wouldn't put it past him. Ashley's signed the contract. It's out of his hands. If it falls through he pockets £17m from Staveley & PIF.

I definitely think there's room for negotiation. I don't think the PL will say, "uh-oh, here's a red flag, reject the deal." Based on absolutely nothing I'd wager there'd be a chance given to the buyers to iron this out with the PL. I'm finding it a bit odd also there doesn't seem to be much panic from the likes or Douglas, Caulkin, Burt etc. regarding this article.

It wouldn't surprise me at all if this has actually been completed and the PL have cracked a deal with the consortium about when to announce it. Consortium announce the takeover complete early morning and PL announce restart at lunch time. The media will want to focus largely on the breaking restart news, and the subsequent resumption of the tedious fawning over Man U, Liverpool et al, minimising the outcry over the takeover. This would suit both the consortium and the PL. The only spanner in the works, of course, is Ashley. Probably no way of stopping him blabbing. Aye, Mike Ashley who's well known for keeping the fans in the loop!

Could doesnt mean would No but if it's an educated guess, its a bad one. He obviously doesnt have the deep connection we all thought. Because he made a stab in the dark & got in wrong?

Steve Wraith is setting himself up for one big fall mind if this doesnt go through.

Could doesnt mean would

Even if Caulkin did say it could be potentially done in next 24hrs, that doesnt mean it would be done in the next 24hrs.

Pretty sure he didnt say that.

Still nowt from Caulkin. Reckon he's stressing over how to word his tweet that confirms its all but over?

That was recorded before this broke But the PL have had this report from the WTO since the 11th.

Richardsons already replied to it What'd he say? He also said in another tweet that the government doesn't want the deal scuppered?

That's the way I looked at it. 11th May the PL received new evidence that put the takeover in doubt. We didn't know what that evidence was. 26th May, the "news" is that we now know what the evidence is that was submitted 2 weeks ago.

Richardsons already replied to it

Maybe a stupid question, but is the document the premier league received on the 11th may the same one due to be published in mid June ? If so this would surely be an irrelevant story if we are believing Caulkin and Jason Burt. I think so.

Well if that's the case then the sources indicating it's either been signed off or no 'red flags' are talking absolute s*** then. There is some respected reporters in that company also mind, who do you believe is the question? I only trust George Caulkin 100% in this and if he says 'no red flags', well then I believe him. He's been saying all along that it's still with the PL. We don’t know if this is classed as new information since Caulkin seemed to indicate it was close last week. I may have read it wrong (probably have) but did Hopes article not say they've had this information since May 11th

Can't these red flags be ironed out anyway? Surely if there were any red flags they'd be discussed with the buyers on how they could be resolved before approving or rejecting.

Expect Caulkin to trot out either "it's not officially signed yet" or "buyers still confident. I'm sure they were prepared for this."

He might have been testing his eyesight.

I don't think it's meant to

Wtf

So should we sell one of the Longstaffs to fund a permanent deal for Bentaleb in the summer? Would you be happy with selling Krafth and Bruce resigning Elmohammedy?

It would if they haven't officially signed it off.

Well he's posting in a thread about Benitez so I reckon it's allowed. It's all I've seen him post about!