Premier League fails to ban Newcastle from signing Ronaldo, Neymar, Mahrez, Neves...

Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryhad Mahrez, Neymar, Sadio Mane, Karim Benzema, Laporte, Aleksandar Mitrović or Firmino to Newcastle? That can actually happen in January 2024 for three reasons. First, the Magpies are in dire need of reinforcements due to a number of injuries and Sandro Tonali suspension. Second, Newcastle are owned by Saudi Arabia PIF fund, which also owns top Saudi clubs Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad. And third, the Premier League clubs just voted that these deals cannot happen in order to prevent Newcastle from strengthening from the Middle East, but the voting ended 13-7 in favour of the decision, which means that the campaign against the Magpies failed. The Premier League needed 14 out of 20 clubs to vote for the ban at a shareholders' meeting in London but left one vote short.

Asked in November whether he would consider signing players based in the Gulf State, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said he was "open to signing anyone if they are good enough". As soon as the director of football, Dan Ashworth also confirmed the possibility, the Premier League clubs hurried to pass on the idea to prevent clubs in England from loaning players from other clubs they own. There are plenty of clubs in the Premier League who own other clubs (Manchester City, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest, Brighton, Crystal Palace….), but those clubs are not full of stars like the Saudi League. To make the story even more laughable, the only player Newcastle wanted to sign was not Neymar or Ronaldo, but Ruben Neves. The whole campaign was raised only for one player, and eventually, it was reported today, before the league meeting, that Neves will not come to Newcastle anyway.

Another blow for Howe: The best goalscorer and the strongest defender are out for the year

There was also another deal on the table against Newcastle in particular, and that was to vote for tougher rules on related-party commercial deals. It was proposed that in future, clubs had to provide proof of multiple offers of the same value, which was also done in fear that the multi-rich PIF could find ways to pour money into Newcastle, which is something that Manchester City has been doing first, and have done it for years. But this was destined to be a ‘Newcastle’ day, as this proposal was also denied.

In another blow to the Premier League, the clubs were unable to approve the terms of the so-called 'New Deal', a £900 million settlement between it and clubs in the English Football League. The Premier League had hoped to confirm the package at Tuesday's meeting, but it is understood no vote took place. Despite a three-hour discussion, there remains a sticking point surrounding new cost control measures for both Premier League and EFL clubs. The Premier League wants the matter resolved before the new independent regulator in English football is put in place.