£47m former Premier League star confirms Newcastle United interest as decision made

Former Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Ruben Neves has ruled out a loan move to Newcastle United during the January transfer window.

Last month, Premier League clubs met in London and voted on whether to place a temporary ban on incoming loan signings between clubs with the same owners.

Twelve teams voted in favour of the block, while eight voted against it. The minimum number of clubs needed to pass the motion was 14, meaning it failed via two votes.

Newcastle are 80 per-cent owned by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, who also hold a stake in four Saudi Pro League clubs; Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Al Ahli and Al Ittihad.

Of those teams, the Magpies have been linked with a move for Al Hilal's Neves, just six months after he left Wolves in a £47million deal.

United are weighing up a move for a midfielder in January as a replacement for Sandro Tonali. The Italian is suspended from football until August 2024 following an investigation into illegal betting activity.

Sources at Newcastle have played down a move for Neves and the player himself has insisted he won't be leaving the Middle East next month.

I don't go," he said when asked about Newcastle links. "I think that's rumours because of the owner of the club of course and because I've played in England as well. There was Newcastle interest before I came here but I'm really happy here, my family are really happy.

"Of course one of the things is the money, you cannot hide that but when you see the project, and I know a lot of people think we say this just to say it but it's not true.

"When they present us with the project it os a very big project. I think people have no idea how the country is improving and how football is improving here and how football can be in a few years.

"In one year we did this in the Saudi Pro League. I believe in two or three more years that this will be an amazing league."

NewcastleWorld understands Newcastle hold a strong interest in Manchester City's Kalvin Phillips but face competition from Italian giants Juventus.

The England man, as it stands, has been given the green light to leave having started just one game this season, which was against the Magpies in the Carabao Cup third round.