Newcastle could now strike bargain £10m off-pitch deal after face-to-face PIF talks in Belgium

Newcastle United’s owners could potentially be about to strike a cut-price deal and realise a long-held ambition in one fell swoop.

The Saudi Public Investment Fund have not been short of ambition since their arrival on Tyneside.

While are currently shackled by Profit and Sustainability Rules, they have been trying anything and everything to become a true force in Premier League football and beyond.

That has extended to ambitious commercial schemes and the exploration of plans to expand capacity at St James’ Park.

They have also looked to the example of Man City with one particular plan that could work wonders in the recruitment department.

And the latest developments in Belgium may mean that Newcastle‘s owners might be about to pull the trigger.

KV Oostende collapse could spark Newcastle takeover

Newcastle’s owners have explicitly outlined their ambitions to build a multi-club model.

In 2023, Amanda Staveley and a number of other Newcastle representatives flew to Belgian to watch then-Eredivisie side KV Oostende play amid talks with the club’s ownership about a takeover.

That deal could have been worth up to £10m, it was claimed at the time.

Now, as reported by Off The Pitch, the Dutch side have declared bankruptcy amid a failed takeover attempt last month.

The club, who were relegated from the top flight last season, are now looking at alternative options to re-enter the Dutch pyramid, including a merger with another club.

It could be that this presents Newcastle with the ideal opportunity to secure a deal on the cheap acquire a club with an established reputation, although it would now be something of a fixer-upper.

Analysis: Why do Newcastle want a multi-club model?

There are myriad benefits to multi-club ownership, although recent developments at governance level mean it might not be as attractive an option as it once was.

There are ample opportunities for knowledge sharing and the capacity to work within an already established scouting network with an outpost overseas.

As seen with City Football Group and Aston Villa’s V Sports network, there are also ways to leverage the brand of the mothership (Newcastle, in this case) to create commercial revenue throughout the collective.

However, the fact that UEFA appear to be tightening the net when it comes to multi-club ownership is a concern.

Man United and Man City have been given a reprise to participate in next season’s UEFA competitions alongside their subsidiary clubs, Nice and Girona, but that is a temporary measure.

Newcastle would in all likelihood be unable to compete in Europe alongside a European club within their ownership network, although they could still use the club as a feeder for recruitment purposes.

There has also been a supporter backlash at some clubs in multi-club structures. Man City experienced it when they tried to acquire a Dutch side in NAC Breda, for example.

For the time being, Newcastle’s focus will be on Profit and Sustainability compliance and the case that City have brought against the Premier League relating to associated party transactions.

But they will likely return to the multi-club idea at some point in the not too distant future.