Andrea Radrizzani and Angus Kinnear face gut-wrenching Leeds United wait as 49ers Enterprises update emerges
Leeds United chiefs Andrea Radrizzani and Angus Kinnear should be expecting an update regarding 49ers Enterprises’ intentions for a settled takeover in the coming weeks, according to Daily Mail.
The American enterprises have the option to buy the club in January 2024 for £400million, although it’s believed the takeover could well be pushed forward to the summer of 2023 (The Athletic).
The Whites sit in a precarious position in the Premier League table, just a point clear of safety after their 2-2 draw with Newcastle United on Saturday (13 May) which means relegation to the Championship could well leave their potential takeover in jeopardy.
And a report has emerged which will certainly have Radrizzani and Kinnear quaking in their boots with any potential takeover crucially dependent on how the coming weeks go.
According to Daily Mail journalist Ian Ladyman [13 May] the 49ers’ intentions if Leeds United suffer relegation are unknown and the club chiefs should be receiving an update regarding their position in the coming weeks.
He said: “But if Leeds United drop into the Championship, the immediate intentions of the 49ers investment group are unknown. Inside the club, majority shareholder Andrea Radrizzani and chief executive Angus Kinnear remain optimistic that the Americans’ commitment to Leeds will not waver.
“They are hopeful clarity may come early next month. From the 49ers, however, there has been no indication at all.”
Leeds United are in a real state of flux right now and that’s crucially down to their lowly position in the Premier League.
The 49ers’ position regarding the matter is certainly understandable given the club still needs to sort out its own future, whether they will be an English top-flight side next season or not.
The American owners have huge plans ahead for the Whites should a takeover be completed with news reporting that they see Leeds United becoming a £1billion football club in the near future [The Athletic, 23 April], which certainly represents lofty ambitions, but also the mark at which a prestigious club should be ultimately reaching.
However, that pipe dream could well blow up in smoke should Leeds United fail to secure their Premier League status for next season.
If Leeds are relegated to the Championship, Radrizzani could lose £270million off the club’s value, with the Daily Mail claiming (18 April) the 49ers won’t be willing to pay more than £150million.
It’s evidently clear that Radrizzani can’t do much more for the club, hence his decision to put the club up for sale in the first place, and the fact that he could lose so much money due to relegation could well leave him a serious state of flux should he remain in ownership as a Championship club.
He’s already putting in bids for other clubs around Europe [Bloomsberg, 13 April] which only highlights his desperation to sell.
The 49ers have made a commitment to purchase the club so any kind of backing out will be hugely problematic for all parties, especially Kinnear and Radrizzani who are entrusting that the Americans are committed to the expected takeover.
The Whites are in desperate need of change and revival especially after what’s gone on over the last two campaigns and the lack of direction from those above means things could spiral out of control fairly quickly.
Relegation could be damaging in so many ways for the club.
It’s perfectly understandable that the 49ers are reluctant to make their position known right with so much uncertainty seeping through the Elland Road roof right now. Which owners will want to purchase a club on a downward spiral?
They could be forced to sell a number of their best players, Radrizzani himself will lose millions and the 49ers could certainly lose interest so the pressure is firmly on Sam Allardyce to get a tune out of the players during the final fixtures of the season. Radrizzani and Kinnear certainly face an anxious and nerve-wracking wait right now.
Huge pressure.
In other Leeds news, Radrizzani could now stay put at Elland Road after a £4.16bn update elsewhere.