The Premier League are edging closer to an announcement over the future of Saudi Arabia’s bid for Newcastle. A £300 million offer is expected to be approved after the Saudi government pledged to clamp down on platforms illegally streaming sporting events in the country.

Illegal sports streams emerged as a key issue for the contentious Newcastle takeover, according to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). A report last week revealed that Saudi Arabian nationals were promoting illegal sports broadcasts through a pirate network company BeoutQ.

The report from the WTO would have meant that the potential new Newcastle owners would fail the test for directors and owners. The Saudi Arabian government has gone on the offensive vowing to comply with guidelines, with a strict crackdown on sports piracy.

The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property released a statement vowing to “shutdown 231 websites that violate intellectual property law to prevent it from being browsed from the Kingdom.”