Saudi billionaire Turki Alalshikh is plotting a blockbuster purchase of an English football club, talkSPORT’s Simon Jordan has revealed.
Alalshikh, who is the chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia, has poured millions into the hosting of high profile sporting events in his homeland.
Simon Jordan revealed details of his discussions with Alalshikh after they met in person@Turki_alalshikh on XBoxing, MMA, WWE, Formula 1 and LIV Golf are now regular attractions in Saudi Arabia with the grandeur of football’s World Cup taking place there in 2034.
Alalshikh’s vision of global supremacy across the sporting landscape has shown no signs of slowing down, according to Jordan, who revealed the billionaire’s plans to invest in English football.
Jordan, who himself is no stranger to football ownership following his stint in charge of Crystal Palace, had been linked with a takeover of Championship side Sheffield Wednesday.
However, Jordan quickly poured cold water on those suggestions before revealing the details of recent discussions with Alalshikh, who is worth a rumoured £2.14billion.
“No, but it’s a club that I always speak about because I look at it and wonder why it’s languishing,” Jordan replied when asked if there was any truth in the rumours linking him with a return to football at Hillsborough.
“I don’t have any burning ambition. I didn’t have fun the first time round with a club I loved but what I do have is a huge amount of knowledge about failure and success”
He continued: “I had the same conversation, without being too indiscreet, with Turki Alalshikh, because they are looking around at other things to do.
“Whilst I would prefer English clubs to be owned by English people because I’ve got a great pride in my own country, that ship has sailed, that horse has bolted.
“So when I’m asked by these guys ‘what English football club would you advocate for us to buy?’ I said if you’re not going to buy one of the legacy clubs of which there’s three in this country – Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United – the next one down the rank is Tottenham, see if you can get a deal out of Daniel [Levy] for that because that’s a spaceship that needs a new captain.
“If I was buying a football club and I was really motivated and had your kind of dough, I would buy Sheffield Wednesday.”
Alalshikh has been at the centre of the biggest sporting events in recent memoryMark Robinson/Matchroom The billionaire has surrounded himself with the biggest names in sportMark Robinson/MatchroomAsked to clarify if those conversations did indeed take place, Jordan doubled down saying: “I told him that. We’ll see what they do, they are captains of their own ship aren’t they?
“Be careful what you wish for. We’ve already got enough foreign investment in our football clubs but if this is the direction of travel, that’s the way I’d go.”
Sheffield Wednesday were a mainstay for much of the early Premier League years but were relegated during the 1999/2000 season after finishing 19th in the table.
The Owls have since struggled to find their way back to the promised land, something neighbours Sheffield United have achieved on multiple occasions since.
Despite a recent spell in the third tier, Sheffield Wednesday still remains one of English football’s big names, according to Jordan, who explained why the club is an attractive proposition for a prospective buyer.
“Because it’s got scale, it’s a big football club,” he explained. “There’s a reason why Hillsborough got used up to a point, for FA Cup semi-finals.
Jordan believes Sheffield Wednesday would be an attractive proposition for Alalshikh“But I’ve been to that club, I’ve watched it, I’ve seen the fan base. I know the Saudis can look across the city at Sheffield United and think their mate who owns that football club hasn’t had the greatest of times over there, but I think it’s a powerhouse.
“If you got that right, as I said to him, they’d put a statue of you in the town.
“If you buy a London football club, and they’re thinking of a couple, I’m not going to tell you who they are, you’ve got a whole wrath of challenges.
“You buy a powerhouse like Sheffield Wednesday that’s in Yorkshire, not just Sheffield that could be garnered and pushed forward, no disrespect to [current owner, Dejphon] Chansiri but somehow or another he’s managed to steal defeat from the jaws of victory .
“They are very bright people and not just because they have a few quid. What they are doing is kicking the tires, asking people questions, getting everyone around them whether it’s me, Frank Warren or Eddie Hearn.”
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