Leeds United are in for a very bright future, if recent claims are to be believed...
What's the word?
According to The Athletic's Phil Hay, the 49ers Enterprises are still eyeing a full takeover of the Yorkshire side by 2024 as revealed in a recent column for the website, highlighting the club's current financial situation following a summer of spending in the transfer market.
'As The Athletic reported last December, and as Radrizzani confirmed himself, 49ers Enterprises holds an option to buy the Italian out and become the majority owner of Leeds before a set date in 2024,' he wrote.
'And while there has been no shift in the shareholding at Leeds since November 2021, it is understood 49ers Enterprises is still positioning itself to activate the option it negotiated and is discussing financing plans.'
Huge news
This news could be game-changing for both the Whites as a club and manager Jesse Marsch.
Leeds director of football Victor Orta was a very busy man during the summer transfer window, splashing the cash on no fewer than eight fresh faces, ranging from free-agent Joel Robles to the £25m acquisition of Brenden Aaronson.
In total, the west Yorkshire outfit spent around £90m and the bulk of that was financed through the sales of Kalvin Phillips (£42m upfront from Manchester City) and Raphinha (£50m upfront from FC Barcelona).
They were also keen on signing Charles De Ketelaere prior to his move to AC Milan and he would've cost in the region of £34m, whilst a deal for Cody Gakpo in excess of £35m came close to completion on the eve of deadline day.
That ambition and level of spending is only going to go up a notch when the 49ers Enterprises, led by Paraag Marathe, take the helm at Elland Road, given the fact that their NFL equivalent is worth $5.18 billion, as per NBC Sports.
That's some way off Andrea Radrizzani's estimated net worth of £450m, so you can already see the sheer difference in potential financial power.
The link with America will be huge both on and off the pitch, too, with an American in the dugout, Americans on the pitch and American owners in the stands. It should open up endless possibilities in terms of sponsorship and advertising, as well as viewership from across the pond as they could unearth a whole new fanbase.
With more money and backing, Leeds could well get back to a level close to their former glory and that should leave everyone concerned with the club absolutely buzzing.
It's certainly fantastic news that the 49ers Enterprises are still on track to follow through with their promises and that will delight Marsch and co immensely in what is likely to prove to be a game-changer in the near future.
AND in other news, Orta "still speaking" with "special" £2.5m Leeds target, he's just what Marsch needs...