Premier League clubs to vote on rule change that could stop Newcastle loaning PIF players
- Newcastle have been looking at loan options in Saudi Arabia including Ruben Neves
- Magpies owners PIF control four clubs in the Saudi Pro League
- The Premier League will have vote on new rules on 21 November
Premier League clubs are set to vote on a proposal to ban loan moves between teams associated with each other ahead of the January transfer window.
Sources have confirmed to 90min that proposals have been drafted and will be presented to clubs at their next meeting on 21 November. They will vote on a temporary 'fast track' measure that would see loans between clubs that are owned by the same entities banned.
The Premier League insist that the plans are not purposefully being aimed at Newcastle United, who have been looking into the prospect of loaning players from the Saudi Pro League. The competition's four biggest clubs Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Al Ittihad and Al Ahli are also controlled by the country's same Public Investment Fund (PIF) that own a mahority stake in the Magpies.
Indeed, the Premier League point to the fact that the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers also have sister clubs that would be prevented from similar deals.
The news has not come as a huge surprise to Newcastle after their sporting director Dan Ashworth admitted earlier this month that, whilst there was nothing to stop the club from signing players from PIF clubs at the moment, he was aware of a growing feeling that things could change.
"Currently no...the current rules and regulations say there is nothing to stop it," he admitted.
Newcastle had looked at taking a player from a sister club in Saudi Arabia after star summer signing Sandro Tonali was banned for ten months following his part in a betting scandal in his native Italy - Ruben Neves, Gabri Veiga, N'Golo Kante, Sergej Milinlkovic-Savic, Marcelo Brozovic and Otavio were all possible candidates. But those hopes could soon be scuppered by this rule change.
Neves is the top target. But, if the rules are voted through, Newcastle would then not be able to loan the Portuguese, currently at Al Hilal, or indeed any other players from Al Nassr, Al Ittihad or Al Ahli.
To stop Newcastle from making such deals, Premier League clubs would have to pass the measure with a two-thirds majority, which means at least 14 out of 20 voting to outlaw the practice.
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