Preston North End takeover looming? Amr Zedan spotted at Deepdale as interest remains clear | OneFootball

Amr Zedan was spotted watching Preston North End's home clash against Queens Park Rangers on Monday

Preston North End claimed a 1-1 draw at home to Queens Park Rangers on Monday, with a very interesting figure watching from the stands at Deepdale.

Preston North End's campaign looks to have fizzled out with five games to go, which was no more evident than their 1-1 draw at home to Queens Park Rangers on Monday.

The Lilywhites, at one point, looked like real contenders for the play-offs, but a torrid run of form has seen them slip down the division into mid-table mediocrity for yet another year, with neither promotion nor relegation looking feasible at this stage.

It will be another disappointing year for Preston supporters, who will have hoped their side could have continued to mount a real push for the top six this time around.

The Lancashire-based outfit has been especially savvy in the transfer market over the years, rarely ever splashing the cash, but with one particular figure watching on their draw with QPR, that could be about to change in the near future.

US-Saudi businessman Amr Zedan watched on Preston's clash with QPR amid the potential takeover of the club

As Preston lumbered to a draw at home to QPR, spotted in the stands was US-Saudi businessman Amr Zedan, who has been heavily rumoured about a purchase of the club.

Zedan had also watched their 2-2 draw away to Leicester City on Saturday, and made the trip to Deepdale on Monday for their clash with the R's.

It had been confirmed earlier this year by non-executive chairman Ian Penrose that the two parties were in talks over a potential purchase of the club, and whilst nothing has been confirmed as yet, it looks to be encouraging signs with Zedan continuing to take a keen interest in the club.

Zedan, who has a background in sports business and horse racing, openly tried to acquire Premier League side Chelsea back in March 2022 before it was eventually sold to fellow American businessman Todd Boehly, and he has seemingly not wavered in his ambition of owning an English football club.

In October 2025, Craig Hemmings, whose family currently own Preston, set out a two-year plan to sell the club, and around six months later, progress has continued, with Zedan emerging as the primary candidate for the role.

How close any deals are to being struck remains to be seen, but it's certainly a positive sign for Preston supporters, who will be dreaming about finally spending big in the transfer market, no doubt.

Preston's transfer strategy could change with a potential US-Saudi-backed takeover

Historically, Preston have never been the most lucrative of spenders, yet have consistently maintained their spot in the second tier since their promotion from League One back in 2015.

The £2.1 million outlay on controversial Montenegrin forward Milutin Osmajic remains their biggest-ever purchase to this day, whilst only five of their top ten expenditures have ever come after 2020.

This summer, only Odel Offiah was purchased for a fee from Brighton and Hove Albion, whilst all of their other incomings joined either on free transfers or loans.

Whilst that is not necessarily guaranteed to change upon the purchase of the club from Zedan, the likelihood that they will spend more in the transfer market certainly increases.