Eddie Howe reveal Newcastle transfer concern after Liverpool £150m bid rejected

The transfer market may be closed for Newcastle United and other Premier League clubs, but it remains open for one of the summer’s most expensive competitions.

The transfer window in the Saudi Pro League remains open for clubs to sign players from anywhere in the world. Many clubs in Europe may face difficulties as a result of losing key players and being unable to replace them.
The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund owns Newcastle as well as Al Ittihad, Al Nassr, Al Ahli, and Al Hila in the Saudi Pro League.

The Magpies have done business with one of the aforementioned clubs over the summer with winger Allan Saint-Maximin joining Al Ahli back in July.

FIFA has listed the Saudi Pro League transfer deadline as Wednesday, September 20 while the league’s website states that signings must be registered by Thursday, September 7.

The extended Saudi window could be seen as a benefit to some clubs and players looking for transfers outside of their own transfer window. For example, former Newcastle and Liverpool midfielder Gini Wijnaldum joined Al Ettifaq from Paris Saint-Germain over the weekend after being deemed surplus to requirements in the French capital.

But there are also serious concerns for clubs who could risk losing some of their top players. Liverpool’s Mohammed Salah has attracted serious interest from Al Ittihad, whose £150million bid for the Egyptian was rejected last week.

And Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has already expressed his frustration with the Saudi transfer window as he said: “The influence of Saudi Arabia is massive at the moment.

“Pretty much the worst thing is that the transfer window in Saudi Arabia is open three weeks longer. If I am right, I heard something like that, then at least in Europe that’s not helpful.

“UEFA or FIFA must find solutions for that. It’s already influential for us but we will have to learn to deal with it.”

When asked if it was a potential ‘concern’ for Newcastle, head coach Eddie Howe told The Gazette: “[The Saudi Pro League transfer deadline] is not something I’ve really considered.