Newcastle United reportedly want to follow the example of Premier League leaders Manchester City and create a multi-club model. According to The i, the Public Investment Fund, who led the consortium which took control of the club from Mike Ashley, are keen to establish a global presence in football and other sports.
Although there are several examples of multi-club models in the modern game, City Football Group is one of the most well-known in England due to their association with Manchester City. Their subsidiaries include Melbourne City of Australia, American giants New York City and Belgian outfit Lommel S.K.
The Red Bull network is another high-profile example but the likes of Newcastle's Premier League counterparts Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion and Watford have sister clubs. Benefits of the multi-club model include data sharing and the ability to move players across markets, and Southampton are also said to be 'actively exploring the market' with a view to buying stakes in other clubs.
