TOON'S £3BN MASTERPLAN

>> Saudi owners have ambitions to make Magpies the next Barcelona or Real >> Club chiefs deny claims they are owned by the hated Saudi state >>> Doc shows Howe's foul-mouthed rant at United boss Ten Hag

- SIMON BIRD

NEWCASTLE'S Saudi owners want to become the new Barcelona or Real Madrid as they transform it into a £3billion club.

The ambition to revolutionise the Tyneside club is revealed in a new behind-the-scenes documentary by Prime Video released on Friday.

Newcastle, 80 per cent owned by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, plus 10 per cent by Amanda Staveley and the Reuben family, has rattled the Premier League elite in the last 18 months after their controversial £305m takeover.

Prime Video got boardroom and dressing-room access to film Staveley negotiating the transfer of Anthony Gordon, giving players' pep talks after wins and telling Eddie Howe's squad they were "on fire."

Husband and business partner Mehrdad Ghodoussi claims rivals are hiking transfer fees, saying: "The problem we have is everyone thinks what is fair market value and adds 20 per cent to sell it to Newcastle."

Staveley defends the takeover that was criticised by Amnesty international who claim it is sportswashing amid human rights concerns in Saudi.