Yasir Al-Rumayyan, chairman of Newcastle United, celebrates with trophy after winning the Carabao Cup Final between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium on March 16, 2025
Yasir Al-Rumayyan, chairman of Newcastle United, celebrates with trophy after winning the Carabao Cup Final between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium on March 16, 2025
Newcastle United supremo Yasir Al-Rumayyan is ready to give the green light to phase two of the club's takeover after being mightily impressed by PIF's third full season in charge.
Having easily pulled away from a relegation scrap in the 2021/22 season to finish 11th, fourth and seventh-placed finishes followed and were among the highest in Newcastle's modern history. That could now be bettered by second or third place this weekend if United beat Arsenal.
Earning third place would be the club's best finish since the 2002/03 campaign under Sir Bobby Robson and the runners-up spot would be the greatest Premier League achievement since 1997.
While Nottingham Forest's owner appeared to go into meltdown and confront Nuno Espírito Santo after the 2-2 draw with Leicester City dented their Champions League chances, Newcastle's chairman was watching calmly from Riyadh ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia.
The Toon chief was one of the faces in the crowd as Trump addressed the world and spoke of his admiration for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Also in the posh seats sat FIFA president Gianni Infantino who Trump asked to stand up and enjoy a standing ovation as he toasted Saudi Arabia's successful World Cup bid.
It was on the hallowed Wembley turf that Al-Rumayyan hoisted the Carabao Cup and said to fans: "That's the first - and it's not going to be the last."
Chronicle Live has been told that PIF are thrilled with Newcastle's performances this season after their Carabao Cup win and the prospect of finishing second only to Liverpool. Nobody needs to be reminded that Newcastle are ahead of schedule but next season bodes well for the club - and for Eddie Howe who should have an enhanced spending pot.
The term enhanced refers to the fact that Newcastle have had to battle hard in the last three windows due to PSR constraints. However, they should not only be bolstered by the sales of Miguel Almiron and Lloyd Kelly back in January, which was viewed as a slight risk internally by coaching staff, but also the assurance of funding further down the line with European football definitely back on the agenda one way or another.
The hope is it will be the riches of the Champions League, but with Adidas money still to come in and the continued profits being enjoyed by the STACK on Strawberry Place, Newcastle are gradually closing the gap between themselves and revenue monsters Man City, who earned £700m last year.
The truth is Newcastle fans have a passing interest in balance sheets. It's about unveiling star signings and deciding whose name they should get printed on the back of their new shirt for the summer holidays.
At his Press conference on Friday, Howe offered some optimism ahead of the window and said: "The ability financially to compete (over) the last few years has been hampered by PSR, but those issues aren’t there for the coming window. So I don’t see any reason why we can’t strengthen, not weaken ourselves."
This seems a far cry from just 12 months ago. Howe and the Newcastle squad boarded a flight for Melbourne with uncertainty dangling in the air.
Howe knew then that he'd been denied the chance to renew certain contracts and other transfer targets would be out of reach after finishing seventh. By the time Newcastle had returned from their controversial trip Down Under they knew they wouldn't even playing in the Europa Conference League.
Fast forward to summer 2025 and the picture has changed again. Howe, bolstered significantly by winning the cup and getting into Europe, could have his strongest set of cards to play yet in the transfer market.
Those close to PIF say that every penny that can be spent on new players will be spent. It's difficult to make forecasts on what will be spent but with outgoing deals to be made it could feasibly hit the £150m mark.
Howe wants to make at least four senior signings with a right winger, a forward and a goalkeeper high on his wish-list. But strengthening across the board is also on the agenda.
These are exciting times. As Howe summed up himself when asked about this season's great results: "All these things help you in the journey that you're on to show to everybody that that's where the club's ambition is."