Newcastle 'reach agreement' to sell fan favourite to Saudi Pro League club amid FFP concerns

Newcastle United have agreed to sell a fan favourite to Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab amid concerns they might fall foul of Financial Fair Play rules.

Saudi Public Investment Fund-owned Newcastle are the richest club in the world, but that doesn't mean their spending isn't restricted by financial regulations.

The Premier League's profit and sustainability rules (PSR) prohibit clubs from accumulating losses in excess of £105 million in a three-year period.

Newcastle recorded a pre-tax loss of £73.4 million for the year ending June 30, 2023, meaning over the last two seasons they recorded cumulative losses of £144.1 million. While not all spending is included in the £105 million limit - spending on infrastructure, women's football, youth and community work are exempt - there is still a need for the Magpies to reduce losses.

One way to do that is to sell valuable assets, and it appears that Miguel Almiron might be the player who is sacrificed.

According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Newcastle and Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab have reached a provisional agreement for the transfer of Almiron.

The Paraguay international is understood to be open to the move, although the deal has not been completed yet.

Newcastle signed Almiron from MLS side Atlanta United in January 2019 in a deal worth £21 million.

Since then the winger has made 195 appearances for the club, but now could be the ideal time to sell the 29-year-old.

Earlier this month, Newcastle CEO Darren Eales admitted that every member of Eddie Howe's squad 'has a price', and that the club will always consider selling players for profit in order to comply with rules and free up funds for future investment.

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"The reality is that when you look at FFP, if you take a step back and look at PSR, there’s ways you can create that headroom," he said.

"Player churn, it’s counterintuitive, but it’s the nature of the beat that it creates headroom."

Newcastle will be keen to avoid the situation that Everton and Nottingham Forest find themselves in, with both being charged with breaching PSR.

While the PIF does not own Al-Shabab, Newcastle could continue to use their Saudi Arabian connections to bring in funds and adhere to PSR.