Preston North End investment talks with US-Saudi businessman revealed - but there could be a stumbling block | OneFootball

Amr Zedan, a US-Saudi investor, has been in talks with Preston about a potential takeover of the Championship club.

Amr Zedan, a US-Saudi Arabian businessman, has held talks with Preston North End as he considers investing in the Championship club.

The Lilywhites are currently owned by the Hemmings family, who assumed responsibility after the passing of Trevor Hemmings in 2021, but it’s no secret that they have been open to outside investment, with CEO Peter Ridsdale revealing in May last year that the club had spoken to six parties about potentially buying the club.

Nothing has come to fruition since, but it made it clear that Preston are on the market, and it appears Zedan is among those to have shown an interest.

Amr Zedan talks to invest in Preston North End revealed

That’s after Sky News confirmed the US-Saudi investor Amr Zedan had recently been in talks with PNE, with a spokesperson for the businessman stating they had been in dialogue since ‘early December’.

However, the report adds that talks had ‘stalled’ in recent weeks, although that doesn’t mean any deal is off, with talks ongoing, even if the process had appeared to frustrate Zedan.

“(The) lack of constructive engagement by club owners as money coming early into the transfer window which is now closing was key to [Mr Zedan's] enthusiasm for supporting the club, its community and loyal fan base,” Zedan's spokesperson said.

Interestingly, it’s claimed that Zedan isn’t the only interested party that North End are speaking to at the moment, but others have not been named.

The update explains how Zedan is willing to continue to speak to PNE in a bid to put some of his finances into the club, but he may also explore other options as he looks for his first involvement as an owner in football.

The 51-year-old, who was born in Los Angeles, and is married to a member of the Jordanian royal family, is no stranger to the world of sport, as his Zedan Racing Stables have won some big horse races around the world, including the Dubai World Cup and the Kentucky Derby - albeit his horse Medina Spirit was disqualified from its win in 2021 from the latter after testing positive for a banned substance.

Zedan was among those keen on buying Chelsea from Roman Abramovich in 2022 before Todd Boehly got his hands on the west London outfit, and in 2022, his net worth was estimated to be around £303 million.

Preston North End would benefit from extra investment into the club

Obviously, there is an element of risk with any change in ownership, particularly as the Hemmings family have run Preston in a sensible fashion over the years.

But, with the team performing well in the Championship recently, albeit they have come unstuck with three defeats in succession without a goal being scored, there will be a feeling that they need extra investment if they are truly to kick-on.

The club is now firmly established in the second tier, and the progress they have made under Paul Heckingbottom means they will now be looking to make that next step.

Clearly, someone with the wealth of Zedan would change everything at Deepdale, and it would offer a much brighter outlook for the future.

As we know, these are often very complicated negotiations, and there’s no indication anything is close, but the fact talks have taken place will encourage Preston fans, as it shows there is interest in the club.

So, this could be one to monitor over the coming weeks and months, although the only focus for Heckingbottom will be trying to get back on track on the pitch as they chase a top six finish this season.