The vote centres around new proposals that will look to block January loan deals between associated clubs. It has come to the fore amid reports that Newcastle are looking to take Ruben Neves from Saudi Pro League Al-Hilal – both teams are majority-owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Premier League chiefs insist the measures are not a direct reaction to those reports, but a quick-fix option for the situation surrounding multi-club ownership models. Such approaches are becoming increasingly common and several top-flight English teams have so-called &apossister clubs&apos.
Here&aposs everything you need to know about the vote and what it may mean for City and United.
The vote will take place on Tuesday, November 21 and will centre around blocking loan deals between a Premier League club and a &aposrelated party&apos. Should the rule come into place, it would only block incoming loans and it is expected to be a temporary measure ahead of a more long-term solution. 14 of the 20 clubs will need to approve the rule change for it to go ahead.
According to the Premier League&aposs definition, a related party has material influence over the club or an entity in the same group of companies as the club. For example, City Football Group majority-own Manchester City, New York City, Girona FC and Melbourne City FC among others – these are all related parties.
United are not part of a multi-club model but Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who looks set to take control of footballing matters at the club after purchasing a 25% stake, owns French side OGC Nice. According to the definition above, it would seem that United and Nice would be associated in that instance.
At the time of writing, both City and United can sign players from associated clubs, but loan moves from those clubs could be blocked depending on the outcome of Tuesday&aposs vote. Premier League chiefs are expected to bring in a more long-term rule ahead of next summer.
Both City and United would, however, be able to buy players from such clubs, as the new rule will only block loan deals. United have been linked with a mid-season move for Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo, and a permanent deal could still go ahead if that develops in such a way.
While the proposal is not a direct reaction to reports linking Newcastle with Neves, Eddie Howe&aposs side will be one of the main affected teams. They are now owned by the Saudi PIF who also own Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad, meaning any loans from said clubs will be blocked.
Aston Villa&aposs ownership also have majority stakes in several clubs across Portugal, Egypt and Japan while Brighton owner Tony Bloom also owns Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise. Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke also owns MLS side Colorado Rapids, Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor has stakes in Lyon and Belgian club Molenbeek and Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis also owns Greek outfit Olympiacos.
