PIF club set to rival Newcastle United for £70m transfer in a strange turn of events

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PIF plan to make Newcastle United an elite club, but the Magpies are not their only priority.

The Newcastle United project is set to go into overdrive after Yasir Al-Rumayyan’s recent visit to Tyneside.

PIF have exciting plans for Newcastle United, which include a new stadium, investment in new players and increasing the club’s revenue.

The Saudi investment fund’s plan also includes winning silverware, which the Magpies achieved on March 16th at Wembley. Newcastle beat Liverpool to win the Carabao Cup, ending their trophy drought.

But while Newcastle are moving in the right direction, they are not PIF’s only concern in the world of football.

Al-Nassr join Newcastle United in the race to sign Antoine Semenyo

PIF are the majority owners of four clubs in the Saudi Pro League, one of which is Al-Nassr.

Like Newcastle United, they are looking at possible players to sign in 2025. And like Newcastle United, they are looking at Antoine Semenyo.

That is according to Give Me Sport, who report that Al-Nassr have identified Bournemouth’s Semenyo as a player they could sign in the summer transfer window.

Al-Nassr are looking for more quality out wide, with Mohammed Kudus and Kaoru Mitoma also on their radar.

How much Antoine Semenyo will cost this summer

It is strange to see two clubs owned by PIF targeting the same player. It further emphasises the point that these teams in Saudi Arabia are not going to be feeder clubs for Newcastle United. They have their own goals and their own ambitions.

That could see them do battle over the same player, with Newcastle interested in Semenyo too.

Semenyo was linked with the Magpies heading into the January transfer window, and he looks set to be a target once again this summer.

Newcastle desperately need a right winger, and Semenyo has proven at Bournemouth that he could be a smart addition.

However, he will also be a very expensive addition. Bournemouth want £70million for Semenyo, which is a fee that would break Newcastle’s transfer record.

Given PSR restraints, it feels unlikely that Newcastle will spend that kind of money on Semenyo. In contrast, Al-Nassr do not have the same financial restrictions. But when it comes to Semenyo, their challenge will be convincing the attacker to move to the Middle East in the prime of his career.