adminTurki Alalshikh could potentially complete a rapid takeover at Leicester City in the coming months.
That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the Saudi Arabian billionaire would have little difficulty securing the necessary approval from the EFL.
This comes after Alalshikh withdrew from a bid to purchase Championship side Derby County earlier this summer, despite receiving the green light from both the EFL and the independent regulator.
However, Wyness believes that Alalshikh’s “volatile” nature means Leicester fans should “worry” about the possibility of him taking control, despite his vast wealth.
The businessman attributed his failed attempt to buy Derby to a lack of time to prepare for the season, despite the regulator approving his takeover after just 55 days of the 90-day restriction.
Alalshikh is now being linked with the Foxes just months later, with Russell Martin’s side currently sitting 13th in League One.
Turki Alalshikh’s ‘temperament’ should concern Leicester
Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that Alalshikh’s fiery “temperament” should concern Leicester regarding the prospect of him becoming their new owner.
TalkSPORT reported earlier in September that the Foxes have “sounded out” Alalshikh over a potential takeover deal, with several other parties also involved in the race.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness explained why Alalshikh buying into Leicester could create more problems than it would resolve.
“Turki’s blotted his copybook now, I think with Bristol City and with Derby. He was approved by the regulator, although he said it took too long,” he said.
“It was 55 days, as opposed to almost 18 months for Newcastle to get bought by the Saudis. So actually he had a pretty quick situation, and I’m sure if he were to get involved here at Leicester then he’d be approved pretty quickly given they’ve just recently looked into him for Derby.
“But I’d worry about his temperament and how he would be as an owner. I’d worry if I was a Leicester fan as to what would happen in the first bad run of form. Turki can be pretty volatile, as he’s shown with the Derby situation.
“So I’d really worry about him as a potential investor coming in as well. I don’t think he’s the right solid type of person that Leicester would need for a turnaround and a comeback to where they were before.”
Why Neil Lal has ‘zero chance’ of Leicester takeover
Wyness previously told Football Insider earlier this week that prospective Leicester owner Neil Lal has “zero chance” of completing a deal to buy Leicester.
The Indian-Scottish businessman is pursuing a takeover of the Foxes and recently made it clear that he plans to approach the club’s board directly in an effort to secure a swift agreement.
However, Wyness believes that Lal’s decision to bypass Citibank, who are handling the sale, indicates that he is not “serious” about taking over.
Wyness has also previously questioned whether Lal has sufficient wealth to help restore Leicester to their former glory.
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