Key Leeds United figure involved in Rangers FC takeover talks | OneFootball

Paraag Marathe is the Leeds United chariman

Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe is part of a bid to take over Scottish giants Rangers.

According to Sky Sports, the key figure behind 49ers Enterprises is involved in talks to purchase the Glasgow outfit.

Maraathe has worked with the Leeds owners for 24 years across multiple sports, and could be set to take the next step in their investment portfolio.

The American business group took full control of the Yorkshire outfit in 2023 following the club’s relegation from the Premier League, having previously been a minority owner.

Paraag Marathe’s Rangers talks

Maraathe, who is the president of 49ers Enterprises’ investment arm, is reportedly part of talks with Rangers over a takeover.

However, it’s understood no deal has yet been agreed and it remains unclear whether it will come to fruition.

The current Rangers ownership is made up of several investors, so it is also unknown just how big of a stake Marathe could be set to purchase, if a deal does get done.

It was also reported earlier this week by Bloomberg that 49ers Enterprises are looking to sell a 10 per cent stake in their NFL team, the San Francisco 49ers.

The timing of this could mean that this injection of cash could be used to fund purchasing a stake in Rangers, although that is not yet clear at this time.

It is believed that it will take a multi-million pound agreement for any deal involving Rangers to go through, with Dave King currently the highest stakeholder of the Premiership side at 13 per cent.

Leeds United’s impact of Rangers investment

If Marathe is acting on behalf of 49ers Enterprises, then this could be Leeds moving towards being a part of a multi-club model.

Investment from Red Bull into the Championship side means that there is already some connection between the Whites and the rest of the teams owned by the energy drinks company.

However, this would be a much greater leap forward into this side of this emerging business practice within football.

With Leeds sitting seven points clear of the chasing pack outside the automatic promotion places, this could be the next step for the club as they eye a Premier League return.

Rangers takeover raises a lot of questions

Leeds supporters will have a lot of questions about what this development means for Marathe and 49ers Enterprises.

However, there is still so much that remains unclear that will have to be clarified at a later time.

It’s unlikely the club will discuss anything for the time being if talks are still ongoing, so any further developments could be quite sudden and quite major.

Leeds and Rangers becoming part of the same group would likely still see the Whites as the primary outfit if a multi-club model does come to fruition, but supporters of the Scottish club could become very unhappy with that kind of partnership.