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Why US investors are interested in buying Sheffield United after takeover update emerges
Sheffield United could well go the same way as Chelsea and Liverpool if yesterday’s report of serious interest from a US-based consortium is anything to go by.
It was claimed that a group of investors from Silicon Valley in America ‘have held talks’ over a takeover of the Premier League’s newest member.
It’s no secret that Prince Abdullah wishes to sell the club, having accepted two offers in the last two years from American Henry Mauriss, who is now in jail for wire fraud, and Nigerian businessman Dozy Mmobuosi.
READ MORE: Prince Abdullah pictured with US investment kingpin amid Sheffield United takeover report
The current owner has been forced to entertain interest from other parties after Mmobuosi’s period of exclusivity has expired with the businessman so far unable to complete a £115m deal rising to £150m on promotion.
And, according to yesterday’s Telegraph, one of those parties is an unnamed US consortium made up of private investors who wish to remain anonymous for the time being.
As it stands, US owners are bankrolling almost half of the clubs in the Premier League, with Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Fulham, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Leeds United and Manchester City all having some level of American funding.
United’s promotion to the top flight has now made them an attractive proposition to investors in the States.
But what is the attraction and why would they be interested in Sheffield United? Football financial expert Kieran Maguire explains.
“Americans love English football,” he told Yorkshire Live. “Even things like Ted Lasso, that increased the interest, the Amazon documentaries, the All or Nothing things have gone down well in the States.
“American owners think that we on this side of the Atlantic are rubbish at marketing our sport and getting money off our fans who attend a match. When you go to an American sports franchise, such as an NBA match or the NFL, you are there for much longer, it’s just spend, spend, spend while you are there.
“It’s entertainment. As a hardcore Blade, you don’t want to hear this but they think they can Disney-fy football to a greater extent and generate a lot more money on the back of that, whereas we take a more traditional approach and are aware of the history and heritage of football being a working man’s sport.
“You would have a couple of pints and a pie and that’s as far as it goes. The American owners want to bring in additional fans to matches who want more of the stardust and sprinkle that American sports bring.”
