LEEDS UNITED are reportedly close to being taken over by Paris Saint-Germain’s Qatari owners.
ESPN claims Qatar Sports Investments, who have turned PSG into one of Europe’s top teams, are locked in discussions for a takeover of the Championship club.
PSG’s billionaire owners are in talks for a takeover of Leeds UnitedCredit: Reuters
It’s said that QSI’s owner and PSG president, Nasser al-Khelaifi, and Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani are close friends due to their respective involvement with TV channels beIN Sport and Eleven Sports.
It’s claimed the pair have thrashed out plenty of deals in the past, and have been engaged in talks over the ownership of Leeds United for some time now.
The good news for PSG chief Al-Khelaifi is that talks are said to be moving in a “positive direction.”
However, the current situation regarding Brexit is apparently one of the factors preventing a deal from being completed.
It’s also reckoned Radrizzani is looking to make a tasty profit on the £38.5million he dished out to take full control of Leeds in May 2017.
But all parties appear confident that negotiations will eventually be successful, with more talks set for this week.
Leeds already have a partnership with a Doha-based football academy, with their youth team travelling there for a tournament and training.
Owner Radrizzani is also involved in a charity regarding Qatar’s 2022 World Cup legacy.
And QSI have apparently long desired to take charge of an English team.
It’s claimed they had been looking at QPR, but eventually opted for Leeds due to the club’s strong Championship form and potential for Premier League promotion.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side came close to reaching the top flight last term but blew a healthy lead at the top of the table before crashing out in the play-offs to Frank Lampard’s Derby County.
Leeds are currently third in the Championship table, just two points off leaders West Brom.
They have also conceded the least times in the competition, shipping just nine goals.
And the possibilities could be endless should they receive the financial backing of oil-rich QSI.
PSG have become France’s top team by a mile during the last decade.
Despite continuing to fall short in the Champions League, they have been able to attract the likes of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Marco Verratti to the Parc des Princes in recent years.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
