Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur – as well as the 17 other Premier League clubs – will meet on Tuesday to vote on potential changes to related-party deals, which could have a big impact on how business is conducted in the English top-flight. The debate comes shortly after reports linking Ruben Neves with a controversial loan move to Newcastle United in January.
Premier League chiefs claim the proposal has not been designed to stop the Al-Hilal midfielder joining the Magpies, but is instead part of a wider debate over associated party transactions. So, with that being said, football.london has taken a look at everything you need to know about the vote and how it could impact Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham.
What is being debated?
Premier League clubs will be voting on whether or not there should be a ban on incoming loans from 'related-parties'. If the ban is passed, Newcastle United would no longer be able to sign players on loan from clubs who share the same owners.
For example, Neves has been heavily linked with a temporary move to the Magpies from Al-Hilal in January. But the Saudi state sovereign wealth fund, PIF, have a majority stake in both Newcastle and the Saudi Pro League outfit – as well as Al-Nassr, Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad too.
The English top-flight chiefs will also be voting on whether commercial deals with 'related-parties' should be allowed. If the proposal are voted through, Premier League clubs would have to prove they had received multiple offers of similar value when looking for sponsors.
When is the vote?
The vote will take place on November 21, with 14 out of 20 Premier League clubs needing to agree for the proposal to be implemented.
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What exactly is a 'related party'?
According to the Premier League, a 'related party' is a somebody who has 'material influence over the club or being an entity in the same group of companies as the club'. So, as aforementioned, Newcastle and several Saudi Pro League sides are all owned by the Saudi Arabia PIF.
In the case of Chelsea, the Blues would not be able to sign any players from Strasburg, who are also under the BlueCo umbrella, on loan. Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke also owns MLS side Colorado Rapids, but Joe Lewis, the Tottenham owner, only owns the Lilywhites.
As for Manchester City, similarly to Chelsea, they are under the 'City Football Group' umbrella which houses 13 clubs around the world and they'd each be categorised in the exact same way.
Can Newcastle sign Ruben Neves on loan?
For now, yes. But if the new Premier League measure is voted through this week then the option of a January loan will be taken off the table. It must be said that the vote will only be a temporary measure until a permanent solution can be found by the English top-flight clubs.
Equally, Chelsea could – for whatever reason – sign a player from Strasbourg on loan until a new measure is voted in. Just like Arsenal could from the Colorado Rapids and Manchester City could from Palermo or New York City, for example.
Which clubs other than Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle may be affected?
Aston Villa's ownership have 'related-parties' in Portugal, Egypt and Japan. Bournemouth's US owner has recently purchased a stake in French side Lorient.
Brighton have dealt with Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise in the past, with both clubs owned by Tony Bloom. Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor has investments in Lyon and Belgian club Molenbeek.
Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis also owns Greek outfit Olympiakos. Sheffield United's owner, Abdullah bin Musaid Al Saud, has interests in Belgian side Beerschot and India’s Kerala United, among other clubs
West Ham co-owner Daniel Kretinsky is the chairman of Sparta Prague while Wolves' Fosun International own Grasshoppers in Austria. Everton would be impacted as well if their impending takeover by 777 Partners goes through given that the betting company also own clubs in France, Belgium, Germany and Brazil.
If Sir Jim Ratcliffe were to buy a stake in Manchester United as widespread reports suggest, the Red Devils will be affected too with the Englishman still in ownership of OGC Nice. Therefore, only six Premier League would be unaffected – Brentford, Burnley, Fulham, Liverpool, Luton Town and, as aforementioned, Spurs.