According to reports, Saudi billionaire Turki Alalshikh is getting ready to make a bid to purchase one of the Championship’s most successful teams.
Alalshikh, who oversees some of the greatest boxing bouts and serves as chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, has been aggressively looking into buying a team in England.
The 44-year-old’s response on a tweet from the club’s primary social media channel earlier this year raised rumors of a possible takeover of Millwall, a Championship team situated in London.
Simon Jordan, the former chairman of Crystal Palace, indicated a short time after that Alalshikh was considering purchasing Millwall.
However, journalist Alan Nixon revealed on his Patreon on Sunday that the boxing promoter is currently getting ready to make a bid to buy Bristol City, another Championship team, from the Lansdown family.
In February, Steve Lansdown, who took over as chairman of Bristol City in 2002 and has subsequently contributed almost £280 million to the team, downplayed any possible takeover. His words were, “We’re not close,”
However, Lansdown stated in 2022 that he was seeking new investors to help the club grow and even implied that he could sell for the “right deal.” The ultra-wealthy Alalshikh will be aiming to convince Lansdown.
According to Simon Jordan, Turki Alalshikh is acquiring an English squad.
In May, Jordan named the freshly relegated Southampton as a club of interest and reaffirmed Alalshikh’s interest in purchasing Millwall.
The former chairman was questioned on talkSPORT regarding the veracity of rumors involving Alalshikh and Millwall.
“No it’s not talk, they are interested because they’ve told me,” he replied. Since I don’t think Millwall is a legitimate football club, I’ve told him and attempted to persuade him to leave, but that’s a separate topic. But he likes Southampton, and it’s Millwall.”
Jordan also disclosed that he recommended Championship underdogs Sheffield Wednesday to Alalshikh, but the Saudi advisor rejected the suggestion. “He doesn’t want Sheffield Wednesday,” agreed Jordan.
“A club in the north is not what he wants. He’s looking for a southern club. Additionally, he believes that Southampton and Millwall are the two teams that pique his attention. He wanted me to say that, therefore I’m not betraying his confidence.”
With an estimated net worth of $2.8 billion, Alalshikh has a long history of owning footballs.
Prior to the club’s recent transfer of ownership to Saudi investment group SMC on May 16, he served as both the owner and president of Almeria, a Spanish second-tier team.
In addition, Alalshikh was the honorary president of Saudi Pro League team Al-Taawoun and the owner of Egyptian club Pyramids from 2018 to 2019.
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