RUBEN NEVES is set to snub both Newcastle and Arsenal regardless of the Premier League vote on whether clubs owned by the same party can trade players between clubs.
The controversy was sparked after it emerged that Newcastle were interested in loaning Neves from Al-Hilal as cover for the banned Sandro Tonali.
Both Al-Hilal and Newcastle are owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Al-Hilal signed Neves this summer from Wolves for £47million.
His potential loan to Newcastle has sparked fear from other clubs relating to rules on competition in the Premier League.
The Premier League is holding a vote to temporarily outlaw trading between clubs today with a two-thirds majority needed to ban the practice.
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The vote is expected to be a close-call, according to David Ornstein in The Athletic.
Any vote to outlaw trading between the same owner would only be temporary however, with a more permanent resolution expected in the summer.
Regardless of the vote, The Athletic report that Neves will not be leaving this January.
The midfielder attracted interest from Newcastle and Arsenal but he is reportedly happy and settled in Saudi Arabia.
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It’s expected that Neves will remain with Al-Hilal at least until the end of the season.
Since moving to Al-Hilal in the summer, Neves has established himself as a crucial part of Saudi Arabia’s most successful team.
Under fellow Portuguese Jorge Jesus’ stewardship, Al-Hilal are top of the Saudi League, top of their group in the Asian Champions League and through to the King’s Cup quarter-finals.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
