Newcastle hit £700m transfer jackpot after Premier League vote went their way
Eddie Howe has the pick of a staggering £700million worth of talent from clubs that Newcastle ’s Saudi owners also control.
Newcastle chiefs Amanda Staveley and Darren Eales successfully fought off a Premier League rule change on Tuesday which would have banned them from loan trading with clubs also owned by the Public Investment Fund. Rivals were concerned Newcastle could use the Saudi Pro League as a cheap backdoor route to signing big stars in January and plugging gaps in their squad caused by an injury crisis.
But only 12 clubs voted for the proposal which needed the backing of two more of the 20 Premier League shareholder clubs to be passed. Eleven top-flight clubs are part of a multi-club model including Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Brighton, Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United.
But it is Newcastle who would benefit the most, given the huge spending on established European stars by the Saudi Pro League. The PIF - the Saudi state investment fund - own four clubs in the Saudi Pro League who spent £700m last summer.
Al-Hilal spent an estimated £320m alone, with Al-Ahli splashing around £180m, Al-Ittihad spending £105m and Al-Nassr parting ways with £105m. Global superstars Neymar - currently a long-term injury victim - was Al-Hilal’s biggest buy at £90m.
But it is the possibility of Newcastle trying to land Ruben Neves on loan in January to replace banned Sandro Tonali that kicked off the row. The ex-Wolves midfielder is admired by Toon boss Howe, whose January budget is limited by FFP rules, meaning a loan signing would suit.
But should Howe want to shop elsewhere in the PIF stable, he could pick other big names. One of the most intriguing is Al-Ahli’s £37m Gabri Veiga, a talented Spain U21
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