The lack of progress in recent weeks regarding 45ers Enterprises' takeover of Leeds United is not the fault of the EFL, according to Kieran Maguire. The football finance expert has put the blame at the door of either the prospective new owners or the outgoing owner Andrea Radrizzani.
Leeds United are currently at a standstill until the takeover is completed. A new manager is set to be appointed following the departure of Sam Allardyce, with former Norwich City boss Daniel Farke tipped to be in the Elland Road dugout when the new season kicks off in just over a month's time.
There is an expectation that some players will be departing following relegation, with a number of star names already the subject of transfer speculation as top-flight clubs look to pounce on their prize assets. That could, ultimately, mean the new manager will have plenty to do in terms of recruitment this summer as he looks to put together a competitive group capable of competing for promotion.
All that, however, is on hold until the takeover is complete. Hopes were raised that completion would be imminent when the club released a statement almost a month ago confirming that an agreement had been reached between Radrizzani’s Aser Ventures and the 49ers Enterprises for the purchase of the club.
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The EFL will officially ratify the deal and Maguire says the hold-up is the fault of one of the two parties and not the league.
"The delays in terms of the Leeds United takeover are not being caused by the EFL,” he told Football Insider. "We’ve seen in other deals such as in the sale of Wigan and Huddersfield Town that if all parties are in alignment a deal can go through in a matter of days rather than weeks or months.
“Therefore, it would seem that the slow progress is caused by either the buying or selling party in the takeover. It has consequences on an operational level in terms of the club’s ability to recruit both in the backroom staff and the players on the pitch. The quicker this deal is resolved the better."
