It looks like our Premier League rivals are going to stop Ruben Neves from signing for Newcastle United in January.
The Magpies are in the market for a midfielder, as they continue to come to terms with Sandro Tonali being banned until August 2024.
It is a huge blow to lose the 23-year-old, and it will force Newcastle to be active in the transfer window.
There have been links with Kalvin Phillips, but the most noise has surrounded Ruben Neves possibly heading to St James’ Park.
Newcastle interested in Ruben Neves
It has been claimed that he is a loan target for Eddie Howe’s side, and that the 26-year-old is keen on a return to the Premier League, having failed to settle in Saudi Arabia after signing for Al Hilal in the summer.
Like Newcastle, they are owned by PIF, which led to speculation that the Toon owners could do Howe a favour and send Neves to Tyneside. However, that plan could be spoiled by the rest of the Premier League.
They are set to vote on a temporary ban on clubs loaning players to clubs that have the same owners, which would stop Newcastle from signing Ruben Neves on loan in January.
It looks like a clear attempt from clubs to stop Newcastle solving their midfield crisis, despite it being a loophole that many of them have exploited over the years.
But Newcastle won’t get that opportunity. If they want to sign Neves, they will have to pay fair market value.
Newcastle could have signed Neves in the summer
For all the speculation, the rumours surrounding Neves only seem so intense because of the story surrounding it. Newcastle signing a top level player on loan from another one of their Saudi owners’ clubs – it is the kind of stuff that the media will lap up.
There would be so much anger and controversy if a deal like that did happen, which is exactly why Newcastle won’t do it.
And if Newcastle really did want to sign Neves, they would have done it in the summer. He was available, after all. And the Magpies were linked.
But he moved to Saudi Arabia instead, joining Al Hilal for £47million. That is a lot of money, but it is less than what we paid for Sandro Tonali.
And while Neves is three years older and does not have as much potential, he does have the Premier League experience that Howe is always craving. If Newcastle really wanted to do a deal for Neves, it would have been possible. He surely could have been lured to St James’ Park due to the appeal of playing in the Champions League.
One thing Newcastle have done brilliantly since the takeover is recruitment. Every player is fit for purpose. There have been no panic buys, which is incredible given some of the situations the club has found itself in since the change of ownership.
There will be no panic in January either, when Newcastle will look to sign a midfielder. But if Neves was not the right player in the summer, he surely isn’t the right player now. Eventually, Tonai will be back, and that is something the club must consider when they look to sign someone in January. Do they go for a stopgap, or someone who can play alongside Tonali once he is available again? Neves would only be a stopgap.
While the reaction from our Premier League rivals is very hypocritical, a loan deal for Neves is not the answer to our problems. We do not need to take shortcuts.
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