sport news Premier League clubs seek to stop Saudi-style takeovers with tougher rules for ... trends now
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Premier League clubs will debate radical changes to the owners and directors' test at their annual meeting on Thursday, including bans on sales to nation states and leveraged buy-outs.
The controversy caused by Saudi Arabia's £300million purchase of Newcastle last year worried many clubs given the Arab state's almost limitless wealth.
At the other end of the scale, the debt-fuelled takeover of Burnley by American investment firm ALK Capital has also raised concerns, leading to talks about toughening the test which new owners must pass.
Saudi Arabia's £300m purchase of Newcastle last year worried many Premier League clubs
The Premier League are understood to have prepared a set of initial recommendations following consultation with the clubs but concrete changes are unlikely to be agreed.
Instead, they are likely to wait until negotiations over a government-imposed independent regulator are concluded before confirming major changes to their own governance.
The Premier League owners have always resisted stiffening the test for the obvious reason that it would limit the potential for future sales and jeopardise valuations but Newcastle's sale to Saudi
