Newcastle United have been handed the green light to loan players from clubs owned by the same owners from the January transfer window.
After a vote on a temporary ban on related party loans did not get adequate support from English Premier League clubs, it boosted the Magpies’ morale in plotting a loan move for players in the Saudi Pro League.
Officials from all 20 top clubs in the EPL met at a shareholder meeting in London on Tuesday, November 21, to discuss several issues, including Everton’s present points deductions and Manchester City’s alleged Premier League breaches.
Another issue being discussed was the possible banning of loan deals between associated club sides.
Newcastle United have been linked with Ruben Neves of Al-Hilal which has recently sparked a controversy over the issue with rival clubs allegedly dissatisfied with the prospect of the Magpies doing loan deals with Public Investment Funds (PIF) owned clubs.
The investment fund acquired majority stakes in Saudi Arabia’s top clubs like Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ahli, and Al-Ittihad over the summer before a mouth-watering spending spree, which allowed the clubs to sign several European stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Ngolo Kante, Neymar Jr., and Roberto Firmiho.
However, thirteen Premier League clubs voted in favor of Newcastle United for the temporary ban on loan moves between teams under the same ownership falling one vote short of the number required for the ban to be introduced.
Several English Premier League clubs, including Newcastle, voted against the ban. While Chelsea, Everton, Wolves, Nottingham Forest, and Burnley alongside Abu Dhabi-owned Manchester City and Saudi-owned Sheffield United disagreed with the motion.
The vote means that Newcastle United, who were bought in October 2021, by a group led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), will be allowed to loan players from other clubs also owned by the fund.
PIF, which is controlled by Newcastle United chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan, has possession of £250 billion, making Newcastle one of the richest clubs in the world.
However, Newcastle United will not be the only club to benefit from the support given to Premier League clubs in other to loan players from Saudi Arabia.
Manchester City have expanded a vast network of football clubs spread around the world, with Abu Dhabi’s City Football Group owning 13 club sides in total, which will also allow the Citizens to easily get players from the Middle East.
On the other hand, if Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s £1.3 Billion possession of a 25 percent stake in Manchester United is finalized, it will also benefit the Red Devils in getting players from French club OGC Nice owned by the British Billionaire.
What’s next for Newcastle United?
Newcastle have been linked with a loan move for Neves in recent weeks, with sporting director Dan Ashworth interested in the former Wolverhampton Wanderers midfieder for a short-term deal due to their midfielder Sandro Tonali being suspended for breaching betting rule.
