Former Newcastle United striker Demba Ba hopes the club's takeover is successfully completed.

Ba says the fans deserve it.

He told ChronicleLive: “I hope it happens for the fans, the city and English football because it's another competitive team. You would have five or six teams fighting to win the title, which is not the way in other leagues.

“I hope that when these buyers take over they do best for Newcastle the team and Newcastle the city. That is important. It needs to be treated with the respect it deserves.

“Newcastle's fanbase is incredible, it is a club that deserves Champions League football every season."