Crystal Palace sale could collapse as 'private equity funds' do their 'research' - Keith Wyness
Crystal Palace are unlikely to be sold this summer despite the best efforts of their American owners.
That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the Eagles will be under heavy scrutiny from "private equity funds" at the moment.
This comes after the news that the club's ownership are considering selling up after FA Cup and UEFA Conference League triumphs in the last two seasons.
However, Wyness is not expecting a deal to come to fruition, with individual investors likely to be priced out by the "premium" asking price for the club.
He feels that the plans for a potential sale are fairly tentative from the owners at the moment, and he doesn't expect them to go much further.
Palace are facing a summer of transition as Pierre Sage takes the managerial reins, and there is currently uncertainty off the pitch as well.
Crystal Palace 'research' delivers clear verdict
Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that the "big private equity funds" will have "done their research" on Palace and decided that they are not worthy of investment.
The Scottish businessman has made it clear that the limited opportunity to add further revenue streams around the club is likely to limit their attractiveness for a purchase.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, he emphasised that the odds are stacked against Palace when it comes to finding a buyer.
"My view is that Palace won't be selling because I don't think people will pay the premium they're asking for, and it'll be business as usual," Wyness said.
"They've just been putting their toe in the water to see if there's anybody out there that might want to look at that.
"There could be somebody out there who wants a Premier League club in London, but those investors that I've been dealing with would be looking for more in terms of having the land to develop and putting other revenue streams around it, and I just don't see that at Palace.
"There may be somebody out there who feels that a London Premier League club is a nice trinket to have, but it's not one that the big private equity funds will be looking at and doing their research on it and coming up with an answer of buy."
Keith Wyness 'very concerned' by 'extremely high' valuation
Wyness told Football Insider last week that he is "very concerned" by the "extremely high valuation" that he has been hearing surrounding Palace at the moment.
The former boardroom man believes that the owners are viewing their asset far higher than they should be at the moment.
He made it clear that there is little "growth potential" surrounding the club and Selhurst Park, even with plans for the redevelopment of a stand.
Wyness also stressed that the club's recent footballing successes will have no value in the eyes of investors, as they are effectively temporary boosts to an asset in business circles.