Leeds hold ‘advanced discussions’ with Qatar over Gulf state buying stake in Championship side
LEEDS have held “advanced discussions” with Qatar over Gulf state buying a stake in the Championship side, reports claim.
The Whites had denied they were in talks with mega-rich Paris Saint-Germain owners Qatar Sports Investments.
However, the New York Times claim PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi is now looking into an investment in Leeds and on Monday held discussions with the English club.
Al-Khelaifi became the new president and chief executive officer of Paris Saint-Germain in October 2011 and five-years later broke the transfer record signing Neymar for £198million from Barcelona.
It is understood the talks are at an “advanced stage” with the stunning move the Qatar’s first move into English football.
The stunning deal stems from a close personal relationship between Leeds’ majority owner, Andrea Radrizzani, and Al-Khelaifi.
Radrizzani has already sold a ten per cent stake in the club to 49ers Enterprises, an investment arm of the San Francisco 49ers NFL side.
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He is frustrated with Financial Fair Play limitations, forcing the Championship club to sell players this summer to gain transfer revenue.
A potential investment in Leeds would be Qatar’s third in club football – as well as PSG the Gulf team owns K.A.S. Eupen, a minor Belgium team.
That investment thought to be part of a plan to improve the skills of young Qatari nationals, with the view of making the World Cup, that Qatar will host in 2022.