Saudi-owned Newcastle United make bid for England football star Kieran Trippier

Newcastle United made its first major bid for a new star player since their controversial Saudi-led takeover last year - with hopes set on Atletico Madrid's Kieran Trippier.

Newcastle has approached the English football star, who is still considering the move, and the Saudi-owned club is expected to sign at least four more players to shake up the squad close to relegation. 

The 31-year-old right-back, who joined the Spanish club from Tottenham Hotspur in 2019, is being tempted with a £17 million deal which would see him stay at Newcastle United until the summer of 2025, according to sport newsite CalcioMercato. 

"Trippier has been approached. He likes the idea of going back [to the English Premier League]. He doesn't want to play in the Championship," said Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague on BBC 5Live’s Euro Leagues show. 

"He would like to play for Newcastle next season, yes. I think he's got a buy-out clause of about €31m or something like that. 

"He has enjoyed Atletico Madrid but I feel he is ready to go back, go back to England," Balague added. 

The right-back was seen reportedly waving goodbye to Atletico fans after the team beat Rayo Vallecano 2-0 Sunday, fuelling rumours that the transfer was almost complete. 

Newcastle United are currently 19th in the league, only second from bottom, and at risk of relegation to the Championship, the second tier in English football. 

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) bought an 80 percent stake in the club last year, ending the ownership of retail tycoon Mike Ashley. In order to complete the deal, the PIF had to provide assurances that the Saudi state would not have direct control over the team. 

Numerous fans praised the takeover as a welcomed reverse to the club's fortunes. 

However, human rights group Amnesty International slammed the deal as "sportwashing". 

Amnesty said the deal was an attempt "to distract from [the kingdom’s] serious human rights violations", such as extrajudicial killings and the denial of basic freedoms for women and minority communities.