Saudi Pro League recruitment chief Michael Emenalo insists there's no 'grand plan' to ferry their best players through to Newcastle United.

Newcastle are owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which also owns several major SPL clubs.

"I can't speak for PIF, only because they have representatives who are a lot smarter than I am and who understand what is going on," he told Sky Sports. "I don't think the club and the processes are aligned as causally as you are suggesting it. There is a separation in management, but again, that is not for me to describe.

"What is clear is with our clubs, if anybody wants our players, then we will listen to them. And if we want a player from Fulham or Burnley, hopefully they will listen - and the same for Newcastle.

"If they want to talk to players at clubs owned by PIF or owned by somebody else, it's open for discussion. There are no limitations, it's just an organic process of football market investigation. There's nothing else to read into it. It is quite casual with the perception there is that there is a link between the four clubs here and Newcastle."

Emenalo added on sending the SPL's best on-loan to the Toon: "Absolutely not, and these players would cost a lot of money and maybe they wouldn't want to go to Newcastle. People are neglecting the independence and decision making of the players themselves."