Americans Dave Checketts and Alan Pace are interested in buying Sheffield United from Prince Abdullah, according to the Daily Mail.
The Saudi prince has become the sole owner of the Blades after winning his High Court battle with Kevin McCabe.
McCabe and Prince Abdullah previously owned 50 percent stakes in the club each, but the former has been ordered to sell his share to the latter for £5m.
It brings to an end McCabe’s 25-year association with United as a director, chairman and owner. He had made it clear that if he won the High Court case he would sell the club.
The most likely buyers were ALK Capital LLC – an investment company headed up by Checketts and Pace. Of course the deal with McCabe is now over, but the duo are still interested in purchasing the Blades.
Checketts and Pace have a background in sport and football in particular, having also been part of the company that established MLS franchise Real Salt Lake City.
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Would Prince Abdullah sell Sheffield United?
Prince Abdullah has stated he has no intentions to sell the Blades. He has already said that his son-in-law will become the new chairman at Bramall Lane and he and his daughter will move to Sheffield.
However, there are concerns about his wealth. McCabe’s QC, Paul Downes raised these worries at the High Court. As the Telegraph reports, he said: “Prince Abdullah couldn’t even come up with a piffling £500,000 to pay staff wages.”
Part of the judgement has also ordered the Saudi prince to purchase Bramall Lane, the training ground, a hotel and offices from McCabe. These are valued at around £50m, but with the club worth £100m he should be able to borrow the money for that.
The issue is, despite coming from a wealthy family, Prince Abdullah says he is personally worth around £200m. And most of that is tied up in business.
If he decides running a Premier League club is too expensive, Checketts and Pace are waiting. And he would make a tidy profit in the process.