As reported on Friday, Newcastle appear to be dropping some clear behind-the-scenes hints that a multi-club model will be launched at some stage this year.
It’s been several years in the making and would not only expand our brand, but also build global partnerships and help top talent arrive on Tyneside, be it directly or through affiliate clubs.
Thanks to the UK leaving the EU, clubs can no longer sign foreign stars until they’ve turned 18-years-old, allowing clubs from abroad to swoop in and get them first.
However, we could potentially exploit this rule and get another club within our system to purchase said player and develop them until they turn 18 and are ready for the move to England.
On that note, The Mail’s Craig Hope reveals that Newcastle’s talent spotters are huge fans of 17-year-old striker Kevin Filling: a Swedish youth international who has just broken into AIK’s senior side.
Likened to Alexander Isak for his goalscoring and history at AIK, Filling is a target but one we are unable to sign until he turns 18 in November, leaving us open to losing out on to a European side.
In this case, transfer rules regarding UK clubs outside the EU could cost us in our pursuit of Filling, but a multi-club model could help us attract more top talent in the future.
Youngsters who may have been hesitant to join under the current format, knowing they’d go straight into the senior side or be lost in our youth squads, could be given the chance to develop at an affiliate side before returning when ready.
This is something we’ve seen at Chelsea, who have used Ligue 1 side Strasbourg as a feeder club; whether that be a hub to nurture loaned out youth players on loan, or ‘sign’ talent they’ve recruited as part of the stepping stone process.