‘Massive’ - Newcastle United given green light to £300m transfer spree - on one condition

That’s according to football finance expert Dr Rob Wilson with the result of the case, which took place in June in front of an independent panel, is expected “imminently”.

APT rules were introduced in the wake of Newcastle United’s £305million takeover by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia almost three years ago.

Premier League clubs were initially placed under a temporary ban from agreeing commercial deals with companies linked to their owners before the ban was lifted and replaced by a process that sees every related-party deal independently assessed to represent ‘fair market value’.

In a legal case that is separate to the hearing into Man City's 115 alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules, the Etihad outfit have argued APT rules are unlawful and are being used to stifle their success, and are therefore seeking “damages for the losses.

Without APT rules in play, Wilson believes Newcastle would have huge financial power. The Magpies have agreed commercial deals with PIF-linked Sela and Noon in the past 12 months, both of which have needed to be signed off by the Premier League as ‘fair market value’.

“It would take [Newcastle] from one of the lowest spenders in the summer transfer window to one of the highest in the space of the season,” Wilson told iNews.

“If City win this APT case, and it allows APTs in the Premier League, then what we’ll see is some massive sponsorship deals signed almost immediately by Newcastle to boost their transfer budget for next summer. It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if they spend over £300m on pure player transfers.”

However before Newcastle fans get excited over the prospect of a Man City win, Stefan Borson - another finance expert - is doubtful APT rules will just disappear.

“I do wonder how much difference it is going to make,” he told the same publication.

“I’m not sure it will be monumental, maybe they will manage to make the argument certain rules or aspects are unlawful. Perhaps some of the latest amendments made in February went too far and those rules need to be deleted and future rules need to be more reasonable.

“But the idea that this case will lead to an abandonment of all types of APT or related party restrictions, I just don’t buy it.”