‘They’re on the list’ – Sheffield Wednesday takeover claim emerges after John Textor latest
Sheffield Wednesday are “on the list” of clubs John Textor would be interested in if he is to buy an English team.
Textor has been linked with a potential takeover at Hillsborough as pressure continues to grow on owner Dejphon Chansiri to sell the club.
Textor recently sold his shares in Crystal Palace to Woody Johnson, with the deal believed to be worth close to £190million.
The American billionaire owns majority stakes in French club Lyon, Brazilian first division outfit Botafogo and Belgian side RWD Molenbeek through Eagle Football Holdings.
The Guardian reported on Monday (11 August) Textor has teamed up with football financier Keith Harris in an attempt to buy Sheffield Wednesday.
Finance expert Dan Plumley told Football Insider Sheffield Wednesday are only worth around £70million, but Chansiri is understood to be looking for around £100million.
The Owls are no longer under a transfer embargo after it was lifted by the EFL before their season-opener against Leicester City on Sunday (10 August).
Henrik Pederson’s side lost 2-1 at the King Power Stadium despite taking the lead in the first half through Nathaniel Chalobah.
John Textor has other distractions after Sheffield Wednesday update
This article contains exclusive comment from Stefan Borson, a former financial adviser to Man City.
Textor is among multiple parties to have been linked with a Sheffield Wednesday takeover since leaving Crystal Palace.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Borson said: “It looks like Textor’s got a few other distractions in other territories.
“But I think it’s obvious that Sheffield Wednesday is a great opportunity for somebody who wants an English club.
“It’s not an easy deal to do, but it’s a great opportunity if somebody can make it work, so it’s not a surprise that he’s interested.
“But he doesn’t seem to be well placed to do it.
“I think it’s obvious that someone like Textor, if he can sort out his situation elsewhere and get the money together, and he said he wants to do a US IPO and that’s all great, that Sheffield Wednesday would be on the list of teams that you want to buy.
“It doesn’t necessarily mean that he can do it, but it makes sense that you would look at Sheffield Wednesday.”
Barry Bannan red card baffles PGMOL insider
Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett told Football Insider Barry Bannan was unfortunate to be sent off in the defeat against Leicester.
The Sheffield Wednesday captain picked up two yellow cards in the space of five minutes, receiving his second booking for a strong challenge on Harry Winks after catching him high up on the leg with his studs in a sliding challenge.
Wout Faes scored the winner for Leicester in the 87th minute – 11 minutes after Bannan received his marching orders – to condemn the Owls to an opening-day defeat.
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