Daniel Farke and his Leeds United squad are focused on preparing for the big game against Sheffield United on Monday night. They are taking giant strides towards earning automatic promotion and a positive result at Bramall Lane will take them one step closer to the promised land of the Premier League. However, off the pitch, some things under work could directly affect the Whites. Leeds chairman Paraag Marathe is a key man behind an American consortium’s bid for Scottish giants Rangers and it has led to all sorts of rumours in West Yorkshire. It is now being speculated that the Glasgow giants could end up becoming a feeder club for Leeds.
Farke has been trying to keep his team focused and grounded as Leeds United close in on ensuring that they are in the Premier League next season.
Leeds are trying to stay away from any off-the-field distractions and are aware that they still have a major job in hand no matter how well-placed they look to win promotion.
However, today’s news would have likely filtered into the club when it emerged Marathe, the Leeds chairman, is leading an American consortium’s bid to take charge of Rangers through fresh investment.
Rumours are abuzz in West Yorkshire about what this could mean for Leeds, including fears of Marathe tightening the purse strings at Elland Road ahead of a big summer transfer window.
However, fresh speculation suggests that the takeover could be good news for Leeds and a bit worrying for the recipients of the fresh investment – Rangers.
Rangers – the feeder club for Leeds United?
Marathe is a key part of the American consortium who are now in advanced talks to buy Rangers from their current owners after opening discussions took place at the turn of the year.
The multi-club model is becoming more common in European football and even Leeds are a tiny part of the Red Bull group of clubs through their minority investment.
There is always a hierarchy of clubs in such a model and it has been claimed Leeds could benefit from Marathe’s investment into the Glasgow giants.
Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan insisted that if Leeds get promoted to the Premier League they would be the more valuable club to Marathe than Rangers.
As a warning to Rangers fans, Jordan conceded that there is a chance the Glasgow giants could end up becoming the feeder club for their Yorkshire counterpart.
“The question is, how much benefit is there for Rangers in this?”, he said on talkSPORT.
“With a change of ownership, they will have more cash but if they are invested in a club like Leeds that have an opportunity to go into the Premier League and play in a league that is undoubtedly incredibly valuable to be involved in.
“What you don’t want is Rangers being utilised as an opportunity to provide feeder-club mentality for clubs like Leeds United.”
Leeds fans must wait and watch
The negotiations are still ongoing and any major takeover requires a while to complete given all the regulatory obstacles they would need to overcome even if the two sides reach an agreement.
Leeds are focused on getting promoted and in the Premier League, the Whites would be a behemoth and would likely remain the priority for Marathe.
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However, the Leeds chairman’s attempts to take charge of Rangers will have some ramifications at Elland Road. If a deal gets ratified, it would be interesting to see whether Marathe tries to form a mutually beneficial relationship between the two clubs.
But Leeds in the Premier League would be a more financially lucrative club than Rangers given the fact that Scottish football is nowhere near the English top flight, in terms of quality or money.
It is far too early to say anything about the proposed takeover of Rangers but it might end up being a beneficial deal for the Yorkshire giants.
