Newcastle United owners linked to purchase of several European football clubs

Newcastle United’s owners have been linked to purchasing another European club for several months in pursuit of a multi-club model.

Earlier this year it was reported Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund- who own 80% of United- were looking to buy another top tier football club on the continent. Perhaps even another Champions League team.

However, now the Independent is reporting a Saudi Arabian state-linked group is looking to buy a club “similar in size” to the Magpies. But it’s not PIF.

The group has singled out both La Liga’s Valencia and Ligue Un’s Olympique Marseille as its top targets at this stage in a bid to strengthen Saudi’s influence across Europe.

According to the reports there has been considerable progress made in pursuit of a purchase.

In August PIF announced the launch of a specialised sports investment company, SRJ Sports Investments to accelerate the growth of the sector in the Middle East.

So it’s not looking like the step towards the multi-club model some were hoping for for Newcastle United. But it doesn’t mean plans aren’t in the works.

Earlier this year co-owner Amanda Staveley said this was the aim for the Magpies.

United’s Premier League rivals Manchester City have built one of the most successful multi-club networks in the world. Its City Football Group has the likes of Girona FC, New York City, Melbourne City, Lommel SK and Mumbai City FC in its portfolio.

“We’re looking at everything in terms of how we grow our brand, our club,” said Staveley, whose PCP Partners own 10 per-cent of Newcastle.

“Opportunities to buy players affordably well early in the cycle are critical to our growth. We’re very focused on the academy and young players. We’re bringing some exciting guys in.

“Obviously we’ve looked at a multi-club but whenever you look at multi-club you’ve got to make sure you’ve got the right fit with the changes around GBE points at the moment. It’s important to do that.

“You also have to choose your territory correctly and make sure you’ve got the right chemistry. Remember, you’re working with another fanbase and another area. It’s critical you set out what your goals will be. It’s complicated.

“We’re also looking at another structure that would allow us to do both, maybe something that gives us more opportunity to work with a lot more clubs. That’s just quite an early stage. I think anybody who is looking to buy a club is going to be looking at that multi-club model.”