Glasgow Rangers on the brink of a game-changing US-led takeover bid, with the financial backing of the San Francisco 49ers. The Daily Record has learned that high-level discussions regarding a multi-million pound investment started before the year's turn and are now thought to be at 'an advanced stage'.
If an agreement is reached, the Ibrox club could receive a significant cash injection, fuelling a spending spree in the summer transfer market. Sources from south of the border have confirmed that one of the key figures behind the proposal is Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe, who also heads the NFL giants' investment arm, 49ers Enterprises.
Marathe, also the executive vice president of football operations in San Francisco, was the main architect behind a takeover of Elland Road Club, which moved closer to a Premier League return on Monday night with a dramatic late win over Sunderland. It's understood he is now part of a consortium, including at least one other wealthy American business tycoon, aiming to restore Rangers to the pinnacle of Scottish football after years in the shadow of Old Firm rivals Celtic.
The American consortium is planning to acquire enough shares to become the largest single shareholder in the club, likely leading to demands for seats in a revamped boardroom. The specifics of the move are still under wraps, but the current major shareholders' configuration suggests any deal will be complex.
Former chairman Dave King holds nearly 13 per cent, Douglas Park retains close to 12 per cent, George Taylor has just over 10 per cent, Stuart Gibson isn't far behind, and John Bennett holds around seven per cent. Directors Julian Wolhardt and John Halsted share a combined stake of just over 12 per cent, reports the Daily Record.
While Marathe hasn't been at the forefront of the takeover discussions, it's understood he's agreed to help fund it as his group nears a deal to oversee a significant shift of power in the boardroom. In return, Rangers would not only receive a substantial injection of transfer cash, but the club would also gain access to the 49ers' cutting-edge, data-driven technology for player recruitment, opening the door to numerous lucrative sponsorships and new commercial partnerships.
The potential buyers see Rangers as an ideal investment opportunity, given the club's regular participation in UEFA elite competitions, either in the Champions League or Europa League. Marathe's understanding of the British game, coupled with his position with the cash-rich 49ers, is seen as hugely significant.
He recently spearheaded a phased takeover of Leeds United, funded by the York family - owners of the 49ers and listed by Forbes Magazine as having a net worth of around $6 billion.
Francisco 49ers Enterprises - the investment arm of the NFL behemoths - initially bought a 15 per cent stake in the Elland Road team in 2018. Three years on, Marathe upped that stake to 44 per cent.
In the summer of 2023, he sealed a £170m deal to fully acquire the club.
Hollywood A-lister Will Ferrell subsequently bagged a minority share and revealed afterwards that his decision to jump on board was swayed by chats with Marathe. Leeds are currently on the brink of a return to the top tier of English football, with Daniel Farke's squad leading the pack in the Championship and Marathe at the helm as chairman.
They've also pocketed more than £150m from recent player sales including Archie Gray's £42m switch to Spurs and Glen Kamara's £10m transfer to Rennes - which happened just a year after the Finland international's £5m move from Rangers.
The Yanks reckon Marathe's know-how can help him turn the tide for Rangers at a time when the club is being torn apart by internal strife. Philippe Clement's side hit an all-time low earlier this month when they were booted out of the Scottish Cup by Championship underdogs Queen's Park, sparking a fiery backlash from the fans.
During a 3-1 league victory over Hearts at Tynecastle on Sunday, a group of away supporters called for a change in leadership at the club. Rangers have only clinched one Premiership title since King took the helm ten years ago, a situation that resonates with the Americans and their experience with the 49ers.
The York family has been at the helm of the San Francisco franchise since the dawn of the century, having won control of the team after a legal tussle with former owner Edward J DeBartolo Jnr. DeBartolo Jnr had an extraordinary run with the 49ers during the 80s and 90s, bagging five Superbowls.
In 2000, he transferred ownership to his sister, billionaire businesswoman Denise DeBartolo York, and her husband John York, a retired cancer research pathologist. The couple then passed on the reins of the 49ers to their son Jed York in 2008.
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