Newcastle United defender Ciaran Clark says the players take reports of a takeover "with a pinch of salt".

Discussions between Mike Ashley and the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund took place in recent months, but as yet no concrete offer has followed.

Asked how players deal with the speculation, Clark told the Evening Chronicle: "We've had this a couple of times now and we try to take it with a pinch of salt.

"We are aware of stuff being said.

"Nobody really focuses on it too much, we concentrate on games and training.

"We try to put that to the back of our minds really."