At the next shareholders’ meeting, Premier League clubs are set to vote on a major development. They would cast a vote to expedite a restriction on loans for players between associated teams during the January transfer window. A rule like that can have an immediate impact on Manchester United and Newcastle United.
Newcastle have been linked with a loan deal for Al Hilal’s Ruben Neves in recent weeks. Both clubs are, however, owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). The Magpies are interested in Neves after Sandro Tonali’s 10-month suspension for alleged betting.
The move is not intended to prevent Newcastle from signing Neves. It is, rather, part of a larger continuing dispute concerning linked-party transactions, such as front-of-shirt sponsorship. The English top flight has recommended this interim solution to maintain the competition’s integrity. It will also give them time to work out a long-term solution.
The Premier League clubs will vote on whether to prohibit loans between affiliated parties during the January transfer window. Apart from Newcastle, Manchester United could fall victim as well. It will be owing to the projected upcoming investment from British billionaire and INEOS CEO Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Ratcliffe presently owns Nice in France’s Ligue 1. If the new regulations are accepted, no players will be allowed to be loaned to or from United. To pass the regulation, at least 14 of the 20 Premier League teams must vote in support. However, amid rising concerns,only a handful Premier League teams will support this big rule change. Some teams, however, want the restrictions to apply to permanent transfers and to span two windows following the first transaction.
A linked party, according to the Premier League, is one who has “material influence over the club or (being) an entity in the same group of companies as the club.” It states that they assess such a party based on the “substance of the relationship, not merely the legal form.” Newcastle and Al Hilal are examples of this, as are Manchester City, Chelsea, and many more Premier League clubs that function as part of multi-club structures.
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