‘Dumping ground’ - Nonsensical claims accusing Newcastle United of Saudi Pro League tactic

Former Everton and Aston Villa CEO Keith Wyness has suggested Newcastle United use the Saudi Pro League as a “dumping ground” to discard unwanted players.

That is despite Allan Saint-Maximin, a talented winger approaching the peak of his career, being the only sale to the Middle East. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) own an 85 per cent stake in Newcastle and the four top clubs in Saudi Arabia.

Sceptics assumed this would trigger a wave of contentious transfer dealings between both parties to alleviate FFP/PSR pressures. When reports linked the Magpies with ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Ruben Neves, now at Al-Hilal, last year, talks were held between Premier League clubs regarding associated transfers.

As it happened, Newcastle did not sign Neves on loan amid a crippling injury crisis. Saint-Maximin was a fans’ favourite on Tyneside throughout his four-year stay - racking up 124 appearances.

The reported £23million fee was questioned by Toon fans as meagre compared to the lavish sums Saudi clubs paid elsewhere. Fulham, for example, copped £50million for former Newcastle striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Liverpool offloaded Fabinho and Jordan Henderson - two ageing players - for £52million - yet ex-Everton chief Wyness bizarrely name-checked Newcastle. He told Football Insider: “Saudi have come out very strongly in the past months to say they won’t be a dumping ground for older players. 

“They’re going for much younger talent now. I don’t think it will be that easy for clubs like Newcastle to realise very good transfer fees for players at the end of their contracts, players they no longer want.

“It isn’t going to happen in Saudi, because they want to get the age group of the league down – and quite right. While I think there may well be some big transfers yet to happen in Saudi this summer, we’re not going to see the old superstars – like Ronaldo – going down to play. He’s done his job for the Saudi Pro League but it won’t be a movement and a dumping ground.”