Ciaran Morrison

Fri 3 April 2026 10:21, UK

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Newcastle United’s Saudi ownership could be forced to cutback their support for the club if events in the Middle East escalate further.

That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, as the Iran war could have an impact on Newcastle.

The Saudi ownership have recently taken the step to sell St James’ Park for £172million to improve their financial position ahead of the summer transfer window.

Eddie Howe’s side have been left frustrated in the transfer market in recent seasons, and have had to sell players to comply with financial rules.

It has been speculated whether Newcastle’s ownership could sell the club, with the Magpies set to miss out on the financial benefits of European football next season.

Newcastle could be hit with ‘dramatic’ cutbacks

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes Newcastle sold the stadium due to a “bad transfer window” last summer.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks there is long-term concern for the Magpies if conflict in the Middle East continues.

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “The geopolitical situation in the world right now, I don’t know if that’s going to escalate.

“All of a sudden, spending on things like sporting assets for the PIF could be cut back dramatically if there needed to be some sort of budget for the problems down in the Middle East. All these things lead to a longer-term concern.

“I haven’t seen the contract, obviously, and there may be clauses around that, but I would doubt it. And so, to me, it’s a big story, and it’s something that clubs should try and avoid if possible. But I’m afraid it was a pretty dramatically bad transfer window last summer, and so they’re in that place, and they’ve taken that option.

“A lot of things here to yet to be looked into and to be resolved, and I’m going to be looking at this closely over the next coming days.”

Newcastle set Sandro Tonali price tag

Sources have told Football Insider that Newcastle will demand up to £80m to sell Sandro Tonali in the summer transfer window.

The Italian midfielder has gained admirers from both Manchester City and Manchester United, but Eddie Howe ideally does not want to sell one of his key players.

No Champions League football next season though will make it harder to convince Tonali to remain on Tyneside, who has been at the club since 2023.