Finance expert outlines Leeds United impact of potential Rangers takeover | OneFootball

Leeds United owners 49ers Enterprises have been linked with a potential takeover of Rangers

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has outlined the impact a Rangers takeover could have for Leeds United.

It was reported earlier this week by the Daily Record that the Whites’ owners, 49ers Enterprises, were in talks to take over the Scottish giants.

Chairman Paraag Marathe is involved in talks with the Glasgow outfit, according to Sky Sports.

However, it remains to be seen whether an agreement can actually be struck, with it being claimed by Football Insider that a £150 million price tag has been set.

Kieran Maguire outlines Rangers impact on Leeds

Maguire believes there can be benefits and drawbacks to this move for Leeds, if Rangers become a part of 49ers Enterprises’ portfolio.

He has claimed that it is an opportunity for the club to expand, but also raised concerns over how resources will be shared if they both have to fight for the same budget.

“Certainly with what I have observed at Leeds United, they are very professional, and they are not going to spend money that they don’t have just for the sake of spending it,” said Maguire, via MOT Leeds News.

“But I do think that there is an opportunity to progress the club, whether it is Leeds United, or a club in France or Belgium or wherever it may be.

“They will act like adults, which is good in a vast majority of ways but does not necessarily please the fanbase, though, because all they want is huge signings to be bestowed on the club and taken to the limit as far as cost control rules, Financial Fair Play and so on.

“There can be synergies for both clubs [scouting networks and data sharing]; equally if money is tight then both could be fighting over the same budget.”

Leeds are currently top of the Championship table and are in a comfortable position in the race for automatic promotion as they lead third-place Burnley by eight points.

Next up for Daniel Farke’s side is a crunch clash against second-place Sheffield United on Monday night at Bramall Lane.

Neither Leeds or Rangers will want to be a secondary club

Both Leeds and Rangers are historic clubs with very passionate fan bases, and neither set of supporters will want to be seen as secondary to the other.

That will be a very tricky balance for 49ers Enterprises to manage if this deal goes through and they maintain their share in the Whites.

One option could be to sell their stake to minority investors Red Bull, but that still keeps the Yorkshire outfit within a multi-club model where they might not be the top beneficiaries.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out, as Maguire rightly points out that there could be some benefits but plenty of possible concerns that will also crop up if this deal all comes to fruition.