The group that funds the San Francisco 49ers have “a deal in place” to buy Leeds United and they are reportedly able to complete this at any point until 2024.
Leeds have been owned by Italian businessman Andrea Radrizzani since 2017. Four and a half years ago, he bought the club for around £45m.
The South Yorkshire outfit were a midtable Championship club at the time he took over. He has overseen a lot of success as they have returned to the Premier League.
The absolutely official worst signings of the season XI
The Athletic are reporting that “an option exists” for 49ers Enterprises to take a 100% controlling stake in Leeds until January 2024. This would include the ownership of Leeds‘ stadium, Elland Road.
The 49ers bought a 10% stake in the club in 2018 and over the past couple of years this has risen to 44%.
It is stated that a complete takeover is “likely to come sooner” than 2024. Later in the report, it is noted that if Radrizzani buys another club before 2024, the deal with 49ers Enterprises would be “voided”.
The full purchase of the club could cost the consortium in excess of £475m.
Meanwhile, Patrick Bamford returned on Sunday and he scored a last gasp equaliser for Leeds against Brentford.
After the draw, the forward admitted that he was “rusty as hell” in his first game back:
“I felt rusty as hell, but it was nice to be out there. I always felt when I came on that I was going to get one chance. It didn’t come for ages and ages and then (Adam) Forshaw said I was going to get one chance and so it happened.
“An ankle injury can drag on so it has been frustrating. There is no specific timescale [for a return], I’ve been setting my return for about the last six matches.
“Now that I’m over it, it feels like it has gone fast. Sometimes when you are out through injury, you become a better player because people big you up like a hero. If I hadn’t scored people would have said: ‘He’s not fit, he’s not ready’.”
When asked what Bielsa told him when he came on: “It was just to try and make a presence in the area, don’t drop too deep and do what I can, really. I just tried to stay in the box and hoped to get in the right position eventually.”
The post ‘A deal in place’ for £475m takeover of Leeds United appeared first on Football365.