According to The Athletic’s Chris Waugh, Motherwell goalkeeper Mark Gillespie almost signed for Newcastle United in March prior to the coronavirus outbreak. The 28-year-old has already held extensive discussions with the club about signing a pre-contract ahead of the summer and was very close to agreeing a deal before the pandemic halted footballing activities. Gillespie’s contract at the Scottish Premiership side expires at the end of the season and he remains keen to sign a deal that will see him return to his boyhood club in the coming months. However, it remains to be seen if the would-be Magpies owners will be interested in handing him a contract post-takeover.