Football means business these days and Premier League has become the ideal destination for the business tycoons in recent years. The popularity, as well as worldwide acceptance, has made it the most profitable tournament across Europe and the earning from TV rights is increasing the numbers every now and then. The league, however, is in news regarding the takeover of Newcastle United as Amanda Staveley, a well-known British businesswoman has been in advanced talks of buying the club ending Mike Ashley’s decade-long controversial reign.
Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners group, backed by money from China and the Middle East, reportedly had productive talks to complete the takeover that, eventually, failed to materialize as she didn’t meet Ashley’s valuation and was around £100 million short of his asking price as stated by sources close to Ashley’s camp.
Fans were excited but the news of Ashley’s disinterest in takeover talks has disheartened them as they were hoping to have a fresh inception after a decade of disappointment where they failed to regain their lost glory and got relegated twice in between. Despite appointing Rafael Benitez as club’s manager, the Magpies are still struggling to retain their Premier League status following last season’s promotion and the lack of transfer activity has annoyed the Spaniard in survival race.
Twitter is not always the best platform to believe what you read, but a lot of things are happening each day that we are truly unaware of. As per our sources, Staveley’s is likely to reignite his takeover plans but may also switch his sights on Championship outfit Leeds United, an esteemed English side with a glorious past, who are finally showing some solidity as well as ambition in last two years. They were a promotion contender last season and also pursuing the same this term under Thomas Christiansen.
Amanda Staveley and her PCP group could be turning to buy Leeds United after her failed takeover of Newcastle!
Isn’t Andrea Radrizzani doing a good job?
On the other hand the £100m transfer budget they are offering to #NUFC would be pretty handy.#LUFC— The 4th Official (@Official_T4O) January 19, 2018
But the news must have baffled the Leeds fanbase particularly after Andrea Radrizzani’s announcement of 100% buyout last year. The Italian businessman has not only brought back stability to the club but also completed the purchase of their stadium Elland Road making it club’s property once more for the first time since 2004. He, as a result, gained massive popularity among the supporters and his good work has made them upbeat and optimistic of a brighter future leaving the darkness behind.
But the valuation of players has increased significantly in past couple of years and it has affected the second-tier as well. Although the West Yorkshire outfit have a competitive squad, with all due respect, they are still wide of the promotion rivals Derby County, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and the others in terms of quality as well as experienced names in their lineup.
Staveley was key to the purchase of Manchester City by Sheikh Mansour in 2009 and holds influence in the business world. The takeover talks of Leeds United are still quite untimely, but the Whites will have a hefty transfer budget to spend ( which we believe is around £100m) in order to revamp their squad and achieve a long-awaited Premier League return.
