Sportsbank, spearheaded by Palace supporters Zechariah Janjua and Navshir Jaffer, and backed by investors primarily from the UAE, aims to inject significant capital into Eagle Football. This entity, controlled by John Textor, holds a 45% stake in Palace, along with ownership of Lyon, Botafogo, and RWD Molenbeek.
Sportsbank's proposed investment is estimated at £230 million and has enlisted the expertise of renowned football financier Keith Harris, who has orchestrated previous takeovers at West Ham, Manchester City, and Aston Villa. However, this development casts doubt on a separate agreement reportedly reached earlier this week with another investor group that includes Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd. This group, funded by Saudi-born brothers Mansoor and Haider Syed, was believed to be acquiring Eagle Football's Palace shares for £150 million.
The situation may lead to Textor retaining his shares but relinquishing his board position, paving the way for Sportsbank to eventually assume control. This scenario could allow Textor, who recently failed in a bid to purchase Everton, to maintain his Premier League connection while mitigating friction with Palace chairman Steve Parish. Their relationship has been strained since Textor's 2021 investment, which granted him only one of four board seats, leaving Parish with the decisive vote.
In the meantime, Palace are actively pursuing Millwall's 19-year-old winger, Romain Esse. Despite Esse signing a new contract in August, a £12 million release clause is reportedly attracting interest from several clubs, including Nottingham Forest. Palace's sporting director, Dougie Freedman, has been scouting Esse, who has impressed with five goals in 25 Championship appearances. This pursuit aligns with Palace's strategy of acquiring talent from the second tier, evidenced by the successful signings of Adam Wharton and Eberechi Eze.
Additionally, Palace are expected to make another bid for Liverpool's young Scottish forward, Ben Doak, though they face competition from Ipswich.
