According to Mirror Sports, the legal team of American businessman Henry Mauriss has claimed that he could complete a fit and proper persons’ test in less than three weeks.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund are looking to seal a £300 million takeover of Newcastle United, but the deal is still awaiting ratification, and the Premier League has spent almost two months carrying out its owners’ and directors’ test.

California-based Mauriss, owner of Clear TV Media, has lodged a rival bid with Magpies owner Mike Ashley and is said to be willing to pay his original asking price of £350 million.

He is ready to move should PIF’s bid gets knocked back by the Premier League and is even confident of passing the owners’ and directors’ test in three weeks of less.

Newcastle fans aren’t particularly impressed with the claims of Mauriss’ lawyers, and some of them took to Twitter to react thus:

Ridiculous

— steve wraith (@stevewraith) June 7, 2020

This guy sounds like Trump.

— Oirectine #FBPE