Newcastle United owners ‘in talks’ to pay Chelsea £60m per year through new deal

Newcastle United’s owners could be about to indirectly fund Chelsea due to ongoing sponsorship talks.

The Magpies continue to benefit from their controversial Saudi Arabian ownership, but they are not the only project being worked on by the Public Investment Fund. Not only have PIF bought up a number of Saudi clubs, but they are also looking to spread their message far and wide through other avenues.

One of them is through one of their biggest companies, Riyadh Air, who are now said to be in talks with Chelsea over a sponsorship deal.

As things stand, Chelsea do not have a shirt sponsor, starting the new season with largely blank shirts, but they are said to be close to getting a new sponsor on the shirt this season. According to The Athletic, Infinite Athlete, who are already a sponsor of the Stamford Bridge club, are in talks over a one-year shirt sponsorship deal.

But in the meantime, it’s also claimed that Chelsea are in talks with Riyadh Air, owned by PIF, over a multi-year sponsorship deal that would begin next season. Chelsea owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake capital group sare said to want £60million per year from the shirt sponsorship deal, which is an increase of £20million per year from their last shirt sponsorship deal, which was with Three.

That deal ended at the end of last season, and Chelsea have been caught short in their search for a new sponsor. They now look set to find a temporary solution ahead of a long-term solution that could come by way of Saudi Arabia.

Newcastle have faced significant criticism for accepting Saudi Arabian money through their ownership, and Chelsea would likely get similar backlash should they accept a deal with Riyadh Air. Ultimately, the money would be coming from the same giant pocket.