A League Two club could be the latest British football team to have a high profile co-owner from across the pond after it emerged that rapper A$AP Rocky is among a group preparing a £15m takeover bid.
North American ownership is nothing new for football teams in the UK with several clubs being taken over by investors from that part of the world.
Chelsea is co-owned by Todd Boehly following the sale from Roman Abramovich in 2022, while the Glazer family remain the majority owners of Manchester United, despite the minority investment and complete control of Old Trafford's football operations by Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS firm completed earlier this year.
Stan Kroenke is a co-owner of Arsenal, while now League One side Wrexham is owned by Hollywood actors Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, whose ownership has boosted the profile of the historic club in North Wales to a truly global audience.
But it seems that another historic British club could now well have high profile North American owners after reports emerged suggesting that rapper A$AP Rocky, who is the boyfriend of singer Rihanna and father of two children with her, could be about to launch a bid worth more than £10m for a side currently in the fourth tier of English football.
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And that side is none other than League Two outfit Tranmere Rovers.
According to The Sun, the rapper is a member of an investment group fronted by celebrity lawyer Joe Tacopina and is seeking to take an 80% stake in the Prenton Park side, who are currently sitting 16th in League Two.
The bid is said to be worth £15m, with the Super White Army currently owned by former FA chief Mark Palios.
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A source close to the deal told the newspaper: "Rocky is tight with Joe and has committed to the Tranmere bid. Joe has been to Tranmere matches and Rocky has plans to go over too after the deal is completed.
"We may even see Rihanna watching League Two football. Joe thinks Tranmere — a famous club, near to Liverpool — is undervalued and that by clever marketing and celebrity endorsement he can transform it. With the likes of Rocky on board, maybe so."
Maybe we'll see RiRi in the directors' box at Prenton Park sooner rather than later, if the deal goes through.
Topics: League Two, Wrexham, Football
John McDougall