Newcastle plotting multi-club expansion to stop missing out on young stars | OneFootball

Newcastle United are exploring plans to expand into a multi-club ownership model to prevent the club from missing out on elite young talent, according to Craig Hope.

Senior staff within the Tyneside club have been briefed to prepare for expansion into a wider football network.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), the majority owner of Newcastle, wants to establish a presence in mainland Europe.

Work is already underway to identify suitable partner clubs for Newcastle, with sides in Belgium and France among the options being considered.

Sources suggest the expansion could progress as early as this year if the right opportunities emerge.

One of the key drivers of the move is the challenge posed by post-Brexit transfer regulations.

Premier League clubs are no longer allowed to sign overseas players until they turn 18.

This has left English sides at a disadvantage when competing with European rivals for the best emerging prospects.

Newcastle’s recruitment team is understood to have detailed knowledge of several highly rated 16- and 17-year-olds across Europe.

However, current rules limit their ability to act on that scouting work.

AIK striker Kevin Filling is one example of a player Newcastle admire. The 17-year-old Swedish forward has attracted strong interest across the continent.

There is a growing belief at Newcastle that he will join a European club that can sign him immediately rather than waiting until he becomes eligible to move to England.

The situation mirrors the early career of Alexander Isak, who left AIK for Borussia Dortmund at the same age before eventually joining Newcastle in 2022.

A multi-club structure would allow Newcastle to sign and develop young players at partner teams before integrating them into the first-team set-up at St James’ Park.

The model would also provide additional pathways for loan development.

Sporting director Ross Wilson and head of football strategy Jack Ross are reportedly leading the project, alongside senior PIF figures involved in the club’s long-term planning.

Chelsea and Manchester City currently employ the multi-club model, and Liverpool been considering a similar move. Newcastle will not want to get left behind.