The Premier League is about to vote on a new rule that would ban loan deals with partner clubs. Newcastle United are already against it
On November 21, in the middle of the international break, things will get exciting off the pitch in the Premier League. That’s when the bosses of the 20 Premier League clubs come together – among other things to discuss and vote on a new transfer rule. According to this rule, teams would from now on be prohibited from loaning players from partner clubs, i.e. from clubs with an identical owner.
The rumors surrounding Ruben Neves illustrate just how realistic such a scenario is. The Portuguese international moved from Wolverhampton Wanderers to Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal in the summer, but has been linked with a winter loan to Newcastle United for several weeks. Both clubs are controlled by the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund PIF.
Howe and Newcastle would be open to winter loan deals
Because the Magpies are currently running out of players due to various injuries and Sandro Tonali’s ten-month ban, but cannot simply go on a costly shopping spree in January due to the Premier League’s financial rules, such a loan deal would suit coach Eddie Howe. Especially as the PIF portfolio includes three other clubs from the Saudi Professional League – champions Al-Ittihad, second-placed Al-Nassr and third-placed Al-Ahli – with whom deals could be done “through the shortest possible channels”.
And so it is only logical that Newcastle will certainly not be among the clubs voting in favor of the ban on November 21. “You can assume that,” Howe said succinctly at his press conference on Friday, calling Neves a “player we liked when he was at Wolves.”
Newcastle would be far from the only club affected
14 votes are needed for the new transfer rule to come into force. And although many other league rivals are in the hands of consortiums that also have their fingers in the pie at other clubs – such as 777 Partners at Everton FC and Hertha BSC or the City Football Group at Manchester City and La Liga leaders FC Girona – it is not ruled out that a necessary majority will be found.
But even then, owners could continue to use their network to their advantage – with permanent transfers. When former Hannover player Allan Saint-Maximin moved from Newcastle to Al-Ahli for over €25 million in the summer, there were already suspicions that the Magpies were “unbureaucratically” improving their financial fair play status. One thing is already clear: Newcastle’s transfer activities will also be closely scrutinized this winter