Brexit uncertainty reportedly impacting potential investment at Leeds United

Leeds chairman Andrea Radrizzani has made no secret of the fact he is looking for extra investment
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Leeds United might have to wait until after the January transfer window for new investment, with reports that uncertainty over Brexit is one of the factors delaying the owners of Paris Saint-Germain getting involved at Elland Road.

Leeds chairman Andrea Radrizzani has made no secret of the fact he is looking for extra investment and that Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), the owners of the French club, are one of the groups he is speaking to.

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He was spotted in the crowd at PSG’s 1-0 Champions League win at home to Club Brugge earlier this month.

Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani.Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani.
Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani.

QSI chairman and PSG president Nasser Ghanim al-Khelaifi is a close friend and business colleague of Radrizzani. Al-Khelaifi is chairman and chief executive officer of beIN Media, the successor to Al Jazeera, while Radrizzani owns Eleven Sports.

Representatives of Leeds and QSI are said to have held “positive talks” recently, with more planned this week, but a conclusion is not thought to be imminent.

Uncertainty over Brexit and the difficulties facing beIN Sport and Qatari diplomacy are cited as reasons the talks have been dragging on for months.

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If the concern over if or how Britain leaves the European Union is not just a haggling tool, the picture is unlikely to become any clearer for some time yet.

The general election on December 12 should give a better indication as to what direction the Government is going to take, although another hung Parliament could further muddy the waters.

The EU has agreed to extend the Brexit process until January 31, although the UK could leave on January 1 if a deal has been ratified.

Television network beIN Sports, which has Premier League and Champions League football in its portfolio, has been subject of a highly-political and long-running piracy operation by beoutQ, which it claims is supported by the Saudi Arabian government.

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The beIN station is banned from operating in Saudi Arabia because of its trade blockade against Qatar.

Qatari money would, therefore, be more of a factor were Leeds to win promotion to the Premier League than in getting them there. Given the way coach Marcelo Bielsa and director of football Victor Orta like to operate, a few more months are unlikely to radically alter their mid-season plans.

Leeds’ transfer budget was tight in the summer because Radrizzani, who bought the club in May, 2017, concentrated resources on retaining the Argentinian coach and his staff.