By Graeme Hanna

23rd May, 2023 | 4:40pm

Phil Hay shares Andrea Radrizzani latest, he may need Leeds United sale to purchase Sampdoria

Andrea Radrizzani will need to sell his stake in Leeds United in order to fund a takeover of Italian side Sampdoria, according to a report by Phil Hay for The Athletic.

The Whites’ majority shareholder is said to be part of a consortium that is aiming to take control of the Genoa-based club which has just been relegated to Serie B.

Ahead of a massive summer of upheaval, regardless of Leeds’ immediate fate on the pitch, Radrizzani’s involvement in acquiring Sampdoria would suggest that he is preparing for a sharp exit at Elland Road.

Writing in his latest piece for The Athletic, Hay shared the latest behind Radrizzani’s move as he was pictured in his homeland in the past 24 hours.

“That is the crux of discussions as it stands: relegation promises to significantly reduce Leeds’ value and 49ers Enterprises would only be willing to buy at a much lower price, somewhere in the region of £150million ($186m),” he wrote.

“It is not clear if Radrizzani is prepared to drop his valuation to that level.

“He was pictured in his Italian homeland yesterday (Monday) and, as reported by The Athletic over the weekend, he is part of a group who are attempting to buy Sampdoria, who were relegated from Italy’s top flight two weeks ago. Radrizzani would almost certainly require funds from the sale of Leeds to help secure the purchase of the Genoa-based club.”

Getting down to business

Clearly, there is a deal waiting to be done.

The 49ers Enterprises are waiting in the wings to pen a takeover deal that is already agreed upon, but that is on the basis that Sam Allardyce keeps the Whites in the Premier League.

Unfortunately, the wheels are all but off that particular prospect, but it is increasingly likely they will still want to cut a deal to buy out Radrizzani with both sides looking to protect their interests given that the club’s valuation will drop significantly in the event of relegation to the Championship.

A bumpy road lies ahead before Leeds can start to look to bounce back on the pitch, including a potential change of coaching regime at Thorp Arch in the coming weeks.

There is so much to be done, so much to unfold, that when the football drama is just about to come to a close, the suits in the boardroom will be getting down to business.

In other Leeds United news, Sam Allardyce came off badly amid a “scathing” rebuke of one flop in the loss to West Ham according to Phil Hay.