Journalist Ben Jacobs has given his verdict on the reports around a potential Leeds United takeover from Qatari group Qatar Sports Investment (QSI).
The Lowdown: Potential Qatar interest
TEAMtalk has claimed that QSI were interested in purchasing the club, but it appears that those talks have now been downplayed as QSI denied the rumours per The Express.
Ben Jacobs has claimed that a source close to the San Francisco 49ers was 'confident' that they would be able to buy Leeds in the summer.
Jesse Marsch's side is in and amongst the battle for Premier League survival and could face the possibility of relegation, as they're only two points above the drop zone. The Whites also have the joint-third worst defence in the league statistically, conceding a total of 33 league goals.
The Latest: QSI haven't spoken with Leeds
Speaking on the 'JustJoe Football Show' on YouTube, Jacobs claims talks of a possible QSI sale may have come from a piece he'd written about on the reported talks they'd held with Tottenham Hotspur.
He said (2:42), "The situation perhaps more recently that linked leads to Qatar was maybe off the back of a story that I wrote relating to Tottenham and Qatar Sports Investments who are the parent company and owners of PSG are looking for an ambitious 2023 and that will include minority investment within a Premier League club.
"But those talks with Tottenham, as I exclusively reported via CBS who I work for our formative and then I think that in a series of briefings, others heard about Premier League ambition and Leeds got linked.
"But we have to be very clear here that QSI hasn't held any active talks with Leeds United, and obviously Leeds have got a different path around that transition of ownership to the 49ers which is likely to be at the end of this season."
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The Verdict: 49ers set on Leeds
We believe that it will be the 49ers who complete the takeover of Leeds and we could see that come into effect this summer.
The 49ers are already shareholders at the club and have provided financial aid for many of their signings. According to The Athletic, Leeds was 'reliant' on the group when completing the deal for January and record signing Georginio Rutter from Hoffenheim.
In 15 Bundesliga matches the Frenchman has four goal contributions, at only 20-years-old it's a clear sign that the Enterprise have long-term ambitions with the club by funding a hefty fee on such a young player.