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Sheffield United takeover: Everything we know so far, US interest twist, Dozy Mmobuosi message
It’s now three weeks on from when Prince Abdullah announced he wants to conclude a sale within a four-week timescale and events took a fresh twist this week.
Reports of American interest emerged, stating a consortium of investors from the Silicon Valley area have ‘held talks over a possible deal’. It claims the party is looking to take control of a Premier League football club and had made contact with officials at Sheffield United.
Yorkshire Live revealed recently there had been interest from across the pond. It’s understood at least one party expressed an interest to engage in discussions during the period in which Dozy Mmobuosi had been given exclusivity, but due to that obligation, United were unable to hold any talks until after that period expired.
READ MORE: Sheffield United Q&A including takeover, hotel, transfer focus and Berge and Ndiaye futures
Here is a round-up of the latest events and everything we know so far about what has been a long-running takeover saga.
Positive start
The Nigerian businessman had been in pole position to complete his takeover, however, despite that exclusivity period and having a foot in the Bramall Lane door for more than six months now, he has been unable to conclude a deal.
His attempts to purchase the club got off to a promising start after putting around £9m on the table to give him exclusivity. It was a signal of intent and the fact he was able to progress his interest to the EFL stage suggested this was a far more encouraging attempt than the previous one from Henry Mauriss, which fell down very early on.
However, the relationship between Mmobuosi and Prince Abdullah broke down after it was understood Mmobuosi had failed to stick to a number of agreed arrangements. With the club struggling financially at the time with well-publicised cashflow issues, Prince Abdullah’s patience wore thin.
Yorkshire Live announced he was moving on without Mmobousi following promotion to the Premier League and was no longer hanging around for the businessman to complete his deal.
Mmobuosi insists that despite the lack of progress, his intentions are still to purchase the club. The deal is for £150m.
Mmobuosi’s latest interview
The Nigerian entrepreneur has done a series of interviews and publicity statements around his involvement, but they reveal very little about why he has not been able to do a deal when he was the only one at the table.
In his latest interview, with Arise News last week, he insists the deal is still alive. He said: “In the last week, we have been talking and we’ve come to a conclusion now and the deal is ongoing.
“This transaction started in December and I made commitments and substantial deposits that made sure the club survived that very turbulent season.
“Now they’re in the Premier League nothing stops me from taking over the club.”
US interest
This week’s report of US interest is timely. A report in Belgium recently claimed United World sister club Beerschot was the subject of interest from American investors. Could the two be linked?
So far, the bid from Mauriss and Mmobuosi’s current offer is for Sheffield United only, but could the American interest centre around taking on all the clubs in the United World stable?
The US consortium is said to consist of private investors from the Silicon Valley area who wanted to remain anonymous for now until further down the line.
As well as the US interest during the exclusivity period, there was also interest at this time from a European multi-millionnaire businessman, but it’s not known if he followed up that once the exclusivity period expired.
Prince Abdullah’s message to Mmobuosi
The Nigerian can be in no doubt about Prince Abdullah’s intentions. There are other interested parties looking at Sheffield United and have been for some time.
Now that their Premier League status has been secured they are an even bigger catch for would-be investors, especially those in the States who are looking to come in to English football.
If Mmobuosi wants the club he will have to make progress quickly. Prince Abdullah has made it clear he is no longer waiting for anyone.
His intention to complete a deal within four weeks was never a realistic timeframe, so were the interviews around the time of United’s promotion a message to Mmobuosi to crack on?
With Mmobuosi no doubt aware of American interest earlier in the year, he will have made note of a picture Prince Abdullah put on Instagram recently. A big Sanfrancisco 49ers fan, the Saudi Prince met with 49ers CEO Jed York and his chief investment officer Brano Perkovich, who is regarded as a major sports investment kingpin in that part of the world with, coincidentally, strong connections to the Silicon Valley area.
York is also involved with Leeds United as part of a consortium of American investors, some of which, are from the Silicon Valley area. Coincidence? Maybe, but the fact that Prince Abdullah has those sorts of connections at a time when news of American interest is revealed will not be lost on Mmobuosi.
It was a well-timed photo. Is Prince Abdullah playing poker with Mmobuosi? Fed up at the length of time it’s taking, is he calling him out and seeing if he responds by doing what he needs to do to complete the takeover?
Or is he genuinely moving on and looking at America as his next option? Only Prince Abdullah knows the answer to that one, but what is clear is that Sheffield United is Mmobuosi’s to lose.
He will be further down the line than any other interested party, it’s up to him to complete. It’s not down to Prince Abdullah or the EFL, it’s down to Mmobuosi to make the necessary progress if he wants the club. If that doesn’t happen soon, we can expect him to be shoulder-barged out of play by someone else.
Heckingbottom request
The Blades boss has informed CEO Stephen Bettis he would like to be kept up to date with events off the pitch, but only if there is a significant update or if it affects him and how he needs to operate.
Keen not to get bogged down in matters that do not concern him, Heckingbottom wants to focus on what will be a busy summer ahead.
As it stands under the current ownership, he will have a limited amount of funds for transfer fees but encouragement to use the loan market.
That may change if there is a new owner before the summer window closes, but rather than wait to find out, he wants to get cracking with putting the building blocks in place now in terms of recruitment.
