Sheffield United set to have new owners as Nigerian billionaire close in on £90m takeover | OneFootball

A deal to buy Sheffield United for £90 million has almost been finalised by Nigerian billionaire Dozy Mmobuosi, according to The Times.

The Blades were linked with new owners last year, but Henry Mauriss could not sail through the EFL’s owners’ and directors’ test.

Meeting the board’s strict criteria has not been a problem for Mmobuosi. They are hoping all goes well after their disappointment last time out.

The club is currently under a transfer embargo that prevents them from buying players for the next 18 months.

Premier League promotion will lift the ban ahead of schedule, and the takeover is needed more than ever.

The Blades have defaulted on a payment due to Liverpool for Rhian Brewster.

They are also trying to renegotiate the structure of the payments to Malmo for Bosnian defender Anel Ahmedhodzic.

Abdullah bin Musaid Al Saud has owned the club since 2019 after initially purchasing a 50% stake ten years ago.

He is ready to move on and the Nigerian is expected to take over.

Manager Paul Heckingbottom has guided his team to 17 victories in 28 league games this term.

His team are five points behind leaders Burnley and have established a 12-point gap ahead of third-placed Middlesbrough.

They were in the Premier League in 2019-20 but were relegated after just two seasons.

The Blades came close to earning an immediate promotion last term but lost to Nottingham Forest in the play-off semi-finals.

They were linked with cashing in on Sander Berge last month but the Norwegian remains at Bramall Lane.

A cash injection from Mmobuosi, who owns Tingo mobile (valued at £6.2 billion), would come in handy and fans will hope the takeover goes ahead.