Leeds United takeover: Phil Hay drops Tuesday afternoon 49ers sale update amid ‘this week’ verdict
49ers Enterprises are trying to “wrap it up” in their quest to buy Leeds United from Andrea Radrizzani and Phil Hay believes they “will get it done”.
Amid a report on Monday night (5 June) from the Daily Mail that a takeover of the club could finally be completed this week the Athletic journalist provided an update Tuesday suggesting that is what the Americans are now gunning for.
The Whites were relegated over a week ago (28 May) and negotiations have reportedly rumbled on since then but the prospective new owners are now pushing for “rapid” resolution.
Posting on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon (6 June) Hay dropped the following hint with his latest story in The Athletic: “While the Leeds takeover process cracks on…”
In the story on The Athletic itself it says: “Confidence is growing about a deal to buy-out current majority shareholder Andrea Radrizzani, with discussions since the end of last week edging them closer to a deal in principle.”
He then followed up on Twitter with further info, adding: “Not too much to add on the takeover beyond what was written late last week – 49ers Enterprises trying to wrap it up.
“Wants it finalised, has wanted it finalised for a while now. Other things, head coach etc, pending until process resolved.”
Asked about the report in the Daily Mail that it could be completed this week Hay said: “I do think 49ers will get it done. Just needs to actually cross the line.”
And in terms of timescale added: “Well, at the first opportunity. It’s already June 6. 49ers won’t delay until next week if they can do it this week.
“Needs closed out as rapidly as possible, hence the negotiations since the season finished.”
Time is of the essence
It should surely never have dragged on this long past the end of a season which saw Leeds United sent back to the Championship, and the Sampdoria complications can’t have helped.
But having got to this point things are finally starting to look imminent, and if a deal can be pushed through in the next few days then the other important questions can start to be answered.
It has looked like Radrizzani was ready to leave for months so the valuable lost time at the start of the summer feels unnecessary and hasn’t done anything for the Italian’s reputation with the fans on the way out.
With other clubs making moves at manager the Whites have ground to make up if they are going to get the right person in to lead a promotion push from the Championship.
Numerous players are expected to leave and a new sporting director is needed to replace Victor Orta, and while Angus Kinnear has reportedly been holding talks behind the scenes he is effectively treading water until the future at the top is cleared up.
It seems that finally that might about to reach the long-awaited conclusion, and the offseason can then begin in earnest.
In other Leeds United news, the club are set to lose out on “huge amounts of money” over a player who is causing fan “fury”.