Newcastle co-owner Amanda Staveley denies PIF interest in Man Utd and Liverpool | Football News

Newcastle United owner Amanda Staveley has said she is confident the club’s majority shareholder PIF will not interfere with the sale of Manchester United and Liverpool.

Speak in Financial Times Football Summit, Staveley said his consortium chose Newcastle because they cost less than 10 times more than Man Utd and Liverpool.

Fresh from Newcastle’s Carabao Cup Final defeat to Man Utd, Staveley, who has a 10 per cent stake in St James’ Park, said: “When we looked at Newcastle, we were very clear that we wanted a club with a fan base. We also wanted a club that could be bought affordably because we (Staveley and her husband Mehrdad Ghoudoussi) are also partners with PIF.

“We are not rich. We are poor partners and help manage many decisions.

“We didn’t go to good Tottenham and Chelsea and Liverpool. I’m a massive Liverpool fan and we tried to buy but we walked into the Newcastle game and said ‘why spend X billion when you can spend £350m (in Newcastle)?'”

But when asked if the PIF would divert its interest to one of the global power centers due to its availability, he added: “No, I don’t think so. I can’t speak for the PIF but I really don’t see that happening. We have been building in the last year from times 11 to hope to have a chance for the Champions League.

Staveley gushed after the Wembley defeat to Man Utd that Newcastle will win the Premier League and the Champions League in the future.

They have spent £250m on players in the three transfer windows since taking over in October 2021, with only Man Utd and Chelsea spending more.

But Newcastle are battling FFP, and need new sponsorship deals and increased revenue to give their recruiting team more spending power in the transfer window.

“We have put £200m so far in new money,” Staveley added. “And we have a business plan based on a five-, 10-, 15-year timeline.

“With the strict FFP rules, we really have to do everything we can to increase our income and improve our finances.”

One of them, he confirmed, is the filming of an Amazon documentary – revealed by Sky Sports last month. Cameras have been following the team for two months.

Staveley also confirmed that the club are looking at the potential of multi-club ownership, similar to the City Group structure at Man City.

Staveley’s comments today come as Amnesty International called on the Premier League to review its “legal assurances” that Newcastle are not controlled by the Saudi state, after filing court documents in the United States.

The court case involving the Saudi-backed PGA golf tour and LIV golf described the PIF as a “sovereign instrumentality of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” and Chief Yasir Al Rumayyan, who is also chairman of Newcastle United, as a “sitting minister of the Saudi government”.

The Premier League and Newcastle declined to comment.

‘Newcastle are close to the FFP limit; They need new income’

Sky Sports News reporter Keith Downie:

“The order from Newcastle is now close to the FFP limit – until they can generate new income to give them more spending power.

“The commercial department has been working hard for months, but it must be remembered that the workforce in the department is still at the beginning of its development and growth.

“If Newcastle are to qualify for Europe next season, they will need at least five or six new signings to compete, so it is vital that new sponsorship deals and revenue streams are announced in the coming months to clear the FFP limit.”