Leeds United takeover negotiations over fresh price ongoing as 49ers buyout intent remains - YEP 29/5/23
Negotiations are ongoing for a Leeds United takeover with 49ers Enterprises still keen to become full owners despite relegation.
By Graham Smyth
The Whites' three-year Premier League stay came to an end on
Sunday with a 4-1 defeat at home to Tottenham Hotspur. Sam Allardyce required a
win from his fourth game in charge and a pair of results elsewhere to go Leeds'
way, but none of those things came to pass.
Instead, the Elland Road outfit head into the summer with no
head coach, no director of football and no certainty over who will own the club
when the Championship season begins on Saturday 5 August.
An agreement had been reached between majority owner Andrea
Radrizzani and the financial backers of NFL franchise the San Francisco 49ers
so that, in the event of Leeds staying in the Premier League, a takeover would
be complete.
Relegation has voided that agreement, not least because of
the difference in price between a top flight outfit and one in the second tier.
The YEP understands that there is no agreement yet in place
for the 49ers to buy Radrizzani's shares but there is hope at the club that a
deal can soon be struck.
Any delay could have a serious impact on Leeds' readiness
for the new season and a promotion challenge that was promised in an unsigned
club statement released on Sunday night.
Radrizzani has recognised that speed is of the essence when
it comes to a takeover, but not the one at Elland Road. He has been in talks to
buy Italian club Sampdoria and today revealed that his initial offer has been
knocked back.
Radrizzani’s Aser Group, joined together with Matteo
Manfredi of Gestio Capital Partners, to submit an offer for the relegated Serie
A side last week but have since had it rebuffed by the club’s current
ownership.
In a statement released on Monday, Radrizzani urged all
parties to act with expediency in order to secure the club’s future.
"It is essential to act quickly," Radrizzani said,
as quoted by Di Marzio.
"Because every day of waiting means delays and the
consequent danger of penalties against the club, also in view of the next
championship."
Radrizzani is yet to address the relegation of Leeds United
and was not present at Elland Road to witness his club leaving the English top
flight.
Although the takeover is the first and most significant
domino that needs to fall before a squad rebuild and recruitment drive can
begin, the YEP understands that the club are not at a complete standstill in
that regard and potential targets are being worked on in the background. The
club's head of emerging talent Craig Dean, who joined the club in 2017 after a
spell as chief scout at Oxford United, and his scouting team remain in place
and have been analysing possible signings.
A handful of managers who would be of interest have also
been discussed at a senior level at Elland Road.
Allardyce, who was brought in on a four-game deal worth a
reported £500,000 to the ex-England boss, refused to commit to staying put in
his post-match press conference on Sunday but did say he wanted to sit down
with the club to discuss next season.
"I can tell them what I think needs to be done and then
they can say what they think or how they think," he said.
"Is it going to be bought, is it going to stay the
same? Until that factor, that's first thing that needs to get sorted out before
you even speak to me. There's a lot of discussion that needs to happen both
ways. I'm not committing myself to say I'm staying just yet."
On the player front the rebuild is expected to be a major
one, with a large number of departures likely but the club cannot confirm the
vast majority of their plans until the ownership picture is clarified.
