adminLeicester City’s £222million takeover saga has taken another intriguing turn, with growing uncertainty over whether any potential buyer will actually meet King Power’s asking price.
The Foxes are currently up for sale, but their valuation is already proving to be a major talking point as the club prepares for what could be a crucial period in its future.
Former Manchester City financial advisor Stefan Borson believes Leicester are unlikely to receive offers that match the £222million valuation set by King Power.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Borson suggested that potential offers could arrive imminently, with Leicester setting a deadline of 14 September for interested parties to come forward with bids.
However, the biggest problem could be the valuation itself.
Leicester are currently languishing in League One for only the second time in their history, despite lifting the Premier League trophy just 10 years ago.
The £222million valuation includes the King Power Stadium and the club’s state-of-the-art training ground, but Borson believes it remains difficult to determine exactly what Leicester are worth in their current situation.
Borson raises Leicester takeover doubts
Speaking to Football Insider, Borson admitted that he remains hugely uncertain over whether Leicester will secure new owners any time soon.
The Foxes have been on the market for several weeks, but he believes King Power may eventually have to compromise on its valuation if a serious buyer is to emerge.
“Yeah, I mean, I think it’s uncertain, to be honest. It’s quite a hard sell at the moment,” Borson said.
“It’s hard to know what you’re basing the valuation of the club on. Which league is the club in?
“Is it a League One team, or is it really a Championship team with an option on the Premier League? It’s hard to say.
“Yeah, I think it’s a tricky one to call. Will they have any offers? Well, probably. But whether they’ll be at this sort of £200m-plus level, I’m doubtful.”
And while the attention has understandably centred on potential buyers and King Power’s valuation, another name continues to stand out within Leicester’s wider situation.
That name is Jon Rudkin.
Why Jon Rudkin is suddenly part of the conversation
Rudkin has been one of the most familiar figures around Leicester City for decades, having spent around 30 years at the club.
His long-standing position within Leicester means he possesses an extraordinary amount of knowledge about the football club, its academy, its players and its internal structure.
That makes his position particularly interesting at a time when Leicester are going through one of the most uncertain periods in their recent history.
The club is for sale.
A £222million valuation is being questioned.
Potential buyers have been given a deadline.
And Leicester are preparing for life in League One while attempting to rebuild after a dramatic decline from Premier League champions to the third tier.
Against that backdrop, Rudkin’s continued presence within the club has inevitably raised questions about what happens next.
There is no confirmed evidence that Rudkin is personally pursuing a takeover or attempting to buy Leicester City, but his long-standing role and proximity to the club’s football operations make his position one worth watching as the ownership saga develops.
Neil Lal takeover chances questioned
One potential buyer who has publicly expressed an interest in Leicester is Scottish-Indian businessman Neil Lal.
However, former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness recently told Football Insider that Lal is highly unlikely to have the finances required to complete a takeover.
Wyness went as far as saying Lal has “zero chance” unless he can secure the backing of one of the wealthiest Indian families.
The former boardroom executive also suggested that Leicester’s valuation is largely being driven by the value of the King Power Stadium and training ground rather than the club’s current footballing position.
Lal remains keen to try to take control of the Foxes, but the financial obstacles appear significant.
And with the 14 September deadline approaching, the pressure is now building around Leicester’s ownership situation.
For Rudkin, meanwhile, the coming weeks could prove particularly significant.
After three decades at the club, his position gives him a unique place within Leicester’s structure — and with the Foxes potentially heading towards a major change in ownership, something strange is certainly beginning to emerge around the long-serving Leicester figure.
Abdulhafiz Teslim
admin
