Newcastle move for Jaissle branded ‘bad business’ as Saudi TV host demands Al Ahli payout

Saudi broadcaster Walid Al-Faraj has launched a fierce attack on Newcastle United over their reported move for Al Ahli head coach Matthias Jaissle and called for the Saudi club to receive both financial and moral compensation.

Jaissle is understood to have submitted his resignation to Al Ahli on Thursday in order to take charge of Newcastle next season, replacing Eddie Howe, according to reports in Saudi and international media.

Al-Faraj, one of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent football presenters, reacted on social media platform X by describing the timing of Jaissle’s planned departure as a major blow for the Jeddah side, who are less than a fortnight away from the start of their domestic league campaign.

In his post, Al-Faraj wrote: “رحيل مدرب بطل نخبة اسيا قبل اسبوعين من انطلاق الدوري خبر صادم” – which translates as: “The departure of the coach of the Elite Asia champions two weeks before the start of the league is shocking news.”

He went on to question the financial logic behind Newcastle’s reported offer and highlighted the size of the contractual obligations involved in taking Jaissle away from Al Ahli.

Al-Faraj said: “يايسله لم يكن سيجد من يدفع له 11 مليون دولار كشرط جزايي الا نادي مثل نيوكاسل، وربما يتعاقدون معه بـ12 مليون دولار، مايعني 23 مليون دولار سنويا، هل هذة طريقة استثمارية؟”

That quote translates as: “Jaissle would not have found anyone to pay him $11m as a release clause except a club like Newcastle, and they might sign him for $12m, which means $23m annually. Is this an investment approach?”

He concluded his message by insisting that Al Ahli should not be left empty-handed if their coach leaves for the Premier League side.

Al-Faraj added: “اقل مجاملة للاهلي تعويضات مالية ومعنوية” – “The least courtesy to Al Ahli is financial and moral compensation.”

Jaissle’s impact at Al Ahli

Jaissle has been in charge of Al Ahli since 2023 and has enjoyed immediate success with the club in continental and domestic competitions.

Under the German coach, Al Ahli have won the Elite AFC Champions League title in consecutive seasons, giving the club back-to-back triumphs in the revamped Asian competition.

He also guided the Jeddah giants to the Saudi Super Cup, ending a nine-year wait for the trophy.

Those achievements have underlined Jaissle’s status as one of the most highly regarded younger coaches working in Asian football and explain the sense of frustration in Saudi Arabia at the prospect of his departure so close to the new season.

Timing and compensation concerns

Al-Faraj’s criticism centres on both the timing of the move and the financial framework around Jaissle’s exit clause.

By highlighting the reported $11m release clause and the possibility of a $12m salary, the Saudi presenter framed Newcastle’s pursuit as an example of poor financial strategy, even as he acknowledged that the Premier League club are in a position to meet such demands.

His call for “financial and moral compensation” reflects concerns that Al Ahli could be left scrambling for a replacement with minimal time to prepare, despite their recent success and investment in building a competitive squad around Jaissle’s methods.

Neither Newcastle United nor Al Ahli had publicly commented on the reported move, Jaissle’s resignation or any potential compensation arrangements at the time of Al-Faraj’s remarks.