Kieran Maguire: Newcastle United may be using £300m talks to smoke out even bigger deal
Newcastle United may be using upcoming talks with SAUDIA to smoke out other potential blue-chip sponsors.
That is the view of finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the Magpies’ plan to squeeze as much cash as possible from commercial partners.
A source told Football Insider on Thursday (1 December) that Newcastle are preparing to hold potentially decisive talks over a front-of-shirt deal with SAUDIA during the club’s trip to Saudi Arabia.
The airline, which is Saudi Arabia’s national carrier but is not state-owned, are sponsoring the tour which will see Eddie Howe’s side make use of a training camp in Riyadh before facing Al-Hilal in a friendly next Thursday (8 December).
Newcastle are targeting the Saudi market for commercial growth and CEO Darren Eales has said they intend to make full use of their owners’ business connections in the region.
But Maguire suggests that a deal with SAUDIA is not a foregone conclusion and the Tynesiders may be hoping that news of their discussions with the company will force other prospective sponsors to play their hand.
“Newcastle’s owners have a broad responsibility to try to generate maximum revenues,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“If this can be done via SAUDIA, I’m sure this is a benchmark that Newcastle can use to try and extract additional bids from other potential sponsors.
“That might be one tactic they employ on their trip to Saudi Arabia. We know that SAUDIA have already sponsored the tour itself.
“The fat lady has not yet sung with regards to a sponsorship deal. But it looks like the Fun88 deal has certainly run its course and they are now preparing for a new front-of-shirt partner.”
In other news, Leeds United plotting move to re-sign Chris Wood from Newcastle United.