Manh Tung, Breaking Media.

Ciaran Morrison

Wed 1 April 2026 18:00, UK

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Newcastle United’s ownership have been backed to not sell the club by former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Wyness responded to claims by Richard Keys that Newcastle’s Saudi backers could sell the club for £500million.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has owned Newcastle since buying the club for £305m in 2021.

The Magpies’ progress under the ownership have been frustrated by financial rules, but Eddie Howe delivered a first major trophy to the club since 1969 last season.

Newcastle continued to increase their revenue in their latest financial accounts, which could be boosted by plans to either build a new stadium or expand St James’ Park.

PIF have ‘issues’ to address at Newcastle

Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes Newcastle’s ownership need to make a decision on their stadium plans.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks they need to show they’re “serious” about taking Newcastle forward, even if he disagrees with Keys that they could be looking to sell the club.

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “When that report came out and it was Richard Keyes that put the story out there I had to consider the source.

“He’s based in Qatar and there’s a bit of an animosity between Qatar and Saudi at sporting level and Richard Keyes himself, I must say, it isn’t exactly the greatest source that I would consider. So let’s just take that with a pinch of salt.

“However, what did make me think was that they’ve had it nearly five years now, and we have still got the stadium issues. We haven’t got the training ground issue resolved yet. They have got to make some decisions. They’ve got to start showing actions rather than words.

“That’s what I think everybody in the Northeast wants. All we’re getting from the new CEO, David Hopkinson, is more words again. And it’s got to be actions, I’m afraid, that have got to start coming through and it is things like the training ground, it is things like the stadium.

“They’ve got to make a decision, is it going to be a new stadium build or is it the redevelopment of St James’ Park?

“Only then can they see the revenue increases that are going to be needed to take the club to where they’re claiming they want to take it. Another season slipped by, and we’re still no further along with some of those issues. They had a pretty bad transfer window last summer.

“There have been some mistakes along the way, but I’m afraid that they’ve got to start showing up and giving us something tangible to hang on to rather than just promises. And so there are concerns about it.

“I don’t think they’re going to sell, but they’ve got to start showing us that they are serious about this and have a proper plan to take the club to the next level, which it deserves to be at.”

Newcastle could sell star to aid finances

Newcastle’s financial position could be strengthened if they decide to sell Sandro Tonali in the summer transfer window.

Former Manchester City financial advisor Stefan Borson told Football Insider that Newcastle could accept offers of £80m to let Tonali leave.

Borson warns that the club could face financial issues with UEFA, and they could earn a profit on Tonali, having bought the 25-year-old for £55m back in 2023.

Tonali may be keen to leave Newcastle to continue playing in the Champions League, with Manchester United and Man City have shown interest in the Italian midfielder.