'Newcastle's Carabao Cup could spark major Saudi reconsideration'

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Newcastle’s Carabao Cup final win could see the club’s Saudi owners give Eddie Howe the investment he needs to take the club to the next level, according to Richard Keys.

The Magpies ended their 70-year wait for a major trophy, thanks to a 2-1 win over Liverpool on Sunday (16 March).

The former Bournemouth manager has been praised for delivering Newcastle their long-awaited piece of silverware, but there are concerns that England may look to hire Howe, should Thomas Tuchel fail to win a major competition himself.

Following their takeover 2021, the club’s Saudi owners had been cautious with their spending on the club, with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR) a perennial concern, but that may soon change, Keys said in his blog.

Newcastle owners ‘lost interest’ before Carabao Cup win

Keys highlighted how the original idea when the Saudi Arabian Public Interest Fund invested into the club, was to turn them into a superpower, like Man City, or PSG have become under their own Middle-Eastern ownership.

However, the beIN sports presenter felt the Magpies’ owners had “lost interest” in the club, but the Carabao Cup win over Liverpool may have changed their outlook:

“It'll be interesting to see how far the Saudi's are prepared to back Howe and his team now. I've felt for some time they'd lost interest in the project.

“It was a different when they bought Newcastle. The original idea was to make a mark on the world's sporting stage like the Emeratis had done with City. And the Qatari's had with Paris.

“But it seemed to me the money dried up when the formula changed and they started buying sport 'in' – staging big boxing bouts in Saudi – football matches – tennis and the like – and setting up their own football league.

“Perhaps now they'll have another look at their involvement and give Howe the money he needs to get to the next level?”

Newcastle investment starts with keeping Alexander Isak this summer

Football Insider Verdict

Despite the lack of trophies, Newcastle are a club with a rich history, and their raucous fanbase build special relationships with the players, often incomparable to any other club.

The latest player to really capture the hearts and minds of the adoring St James’ Park spectators is Alexander Isak.

The Swedish striker has written himself into Newcastle folklore, having scored the winner on Sunday against the Reds.

However, some of England’s biggest clubs are now very keen on signing the former Borussia Dortmund man.

Arsenal were linked with Isak in January, whilst Liverpool are prepared to agree a sensational deal for Isak, Stefan Borson told Football Insider exclusively.

Sunday’s hero would be near irreplaceable in the summer, and keeping the former Real Sociedad striker should be the top priority this summer.

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