Doesn’t even need to be the expensive talent in Saudi. Get 4 players signed up to 4 different clubs in the Saudi league, with transfer fees of say circa £50m per player. All 4 are loaned to Newcastle on 2 year loans. FFP works in 3 year cycles (I think?), leaving a huge amount of breathing space for the club’s finances and you’ve signed nearly half an outfield starting 11 in the process.
If you really want to push the boundaries of sporting integrity, those players sign for the Saudi clubs on 2 year contracts and have “gentlemans agreements” to sign pre contracts with Newcastle in the months leading to the expiration of their contracts.
It’s open to plenty of abuse if they want it to be.
Doesn’t even need to be the expensive talent in Saudi. Get 4 players signed up to 4 different clubs in the Saudi league, with transfer fees of say circa £50m per player. All 4 are loaned to Newcastle on 2 year loans. FFP works in 3 year cycles (I think?), leaving a huge amount of breathing space for the club’s finances and you’ve signed nearly half an outfield starting 11 in the process. If you really want to push the boundaries of sporting integrity, those players sign for the Saudi clubs on 2 year contracts and have “gentlemans agreements” to sign pre contracts with Newcastle in the months leading to the expiration of their contracts.
It’s open to plenty of abuse if they want it to be.