Watch more of our videos on Shots!
and live on Freeview channel 276

Newcastle United's majority owners have been reported to have been sizing up the purchase of another European football club for some time, entering into numerous partnerships across the continent.

Newcastle United chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan and Director Amanda Staveley. Amanda Staveley's consortium, in which Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund holds an 80 per cent stake, completed its takeover of the club in October 2021.

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund owns the new front-of-shirt sponsor of Atletico Madrid, whilst talk has been circulating about the potential for further deals.

And reports are now linking PIF with a majority takeover of AS Roma, taking its stake in European football that one step further.

According to La Repubblica, a two-way bidding war is taking place between the Newcastle United owners and Saudi private investor Turki Alalshikh to purchase AS Roma.

Current owners The Friedkin Group is considering an offer that includes a change of ownership, sponsorships and the funding of a new stadium, according to reports, in a deal worth £768m.

In October, it was announced Riyadh Season, an event ran by Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority of which Turki Alalshikh is the chairman, would be AS Roma's new front-of-shirt sponsor in a deal reported to be worth £6.8m per season. PIF have owned 80% of Newcastle United since the club's £305m takeover in 2021 and since then have been linked with numerous other teams.

Just last month, La Repubblica reported PIF were in talks with AC Milan after the club's owner and CEO travelled to Saudi Arabia. The wealth fund has also been linked with buying Inter.

Newcastle United PIF owners linked with purchasing another Serie A side amid £768m rumours