Newcastle could sign ‘incredible’ talent after PIF reveal - Keith Wyness

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness believes that Newcastle could sign a talented young player as Saudi Arabia push to try to host and win a World Cup.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – revealed he has been helping Saudi Arabia to develop their youth system to create a talented national team within the next decade.

The nation hopes to host the 2034 World Cup, and the nation wants its team to be competitive in that tournament.

To create players of that standard many young Saudi Arabian footballers will be loaned out around Europe to gain more experience, which could benefit Newcastle.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund have bankrolled the Magpies since 2021, and that connection could lead to Newcastle being the club to benefit from the most talented young players that are unearthed in the coming years.

Newcastle could end up loaning a future star

Wyness told Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast: “It’s interesting, I can’t say much about it in detail, but I was involved in a recent plan with trying to re-look at the academy system in Saudi.

“Looking at it with a view of how you can win a World Cup in 2034.

“Now a big part of developing a team and if you assume 2034, a lot of the kids right now are 10 years to the World Cup so right now they’re going to be 10 up to 14,15,16 possibly, up to 18.

“So, between 10 and 18 roughly.

“A lot of those kids in their football journey in those years now may be loaned out to Newcastle or other clubs like that.

“So, there could be some incredible talent that could be accessed providing it meets all the FIFA regulations.

“There’s something there that could affect Newcastle in a positive way if there is a discovery of a great well of youth in Saudi.

“Whether it’s there or not we’ve got to see, nobody’s ever really looked seriously for it before.

“But, if there is I’m sure there will be a big discovery and a big nurturing of that talent and Newcastle could benefit from that point of view.”

In other news, Newcastle sources: Significant Jonathan David update.

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