A Saudi Arabian-funded group has “emerged as the frontrunner” to buy French Ligue 1 club AS Monaco, but the potential takeover could “hinge on whether the French side would be judged as a sister club” of Premier League club Newcastle United, according to Martyn Ziegler of the London TIMES. AS Monaco President Dmitry Rybolovlev is “looking to sell” his 67% stake in the club, and although the Saudi PIF -- which owns Newcastle United -- would not be part of any purchase, there could be “enough of a link” that would result in AS Monaco being viewed by UEFA as part of a multi-club ownership structure with Newcastle. UEFA is “set to insist” that clubs in the same European competition who are part of the same ownership group will have to put one of the clubs into an independently controlled “blind trust” for the season. L’Equipe reported that, should the Saudi bid succeed in buying AS Monaco, the new owners would "seek to appoint" Paris Saint-Germain Sporting Dir Luis Campos as the president of the club. Rybolovlev said that he had “decided to commence a process to explore strategic alternatives” for his stake in the club after “receiving unsolicited inbound interest” (London TIMES, 6/24).
