Stoke’s recent £13m bid for former Swan Joe Allen – which has been accepted by Liverpool, has put further pressure on the Swansea board to match their offer for the Welsh global midfielder.
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Levien, though, would not go into financial specifics about the arrangement.
“I think we’ve bought into a club with an exciting history and a tremendous fan-base, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of it”, Levien, who was accompanied by Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins, told reporters.
The pair said they studied other top-flight clubs but felt investing in Swansea – who have been in the Premier League for the last five seasons – was the right choice. “Quite simply we believe the Premier League is the greatest football league in the world”, said the Kaplan and Levien statement.
Trust chairman Phil Sumbler said: “We are still to receive any information regarding future plans for the football club, and also what investment into the football club, if any, is proposed”. We recognise this club means so much to so many people and we take the responsibility as owners very seriously.
“A number of people have asked us why the Premier League and why Swansea City?”. We think we can add some commercial value, and we want the club to flourish on the pitch.
“We’re in it to win”. We appreciate how important the football club is to the city of Swansea and we wanted to communicate with you, the fans, our thoughts as new partners in the club. If we have success on the pitch and do things the right way, I think there is going to be an organic growth. For us, our focus is on having success here.
“I think £13 million is probably a high valuation for a player with a year left in his contract”, mused Jenkins. We are not going to make decisions that are not helpful to the health of the club, long term.
Jason Levien and the United States investors now own a 68% stake in Swansea CityHow to measure success?
Earlier this week the Swansea City Supporters Trust, which owns 21 per cent of the club, expressed disappointment at the lack of engagement during the takeover process.
“Over the next week or 10 days things may move on, but we must remember we have a full complement of midfield players as it is”. However, if they are serious about it though, they will need to act fast, as talks between Stoke City and Liverpool are already at an advanced stage.
“Me and Huw have been talking for a year, and our relationship has grown stronger”.
“It’s a unique story of a club rescued by a combination of mainly local businessmen and a group of fans who decided they couldn’t stand by and let something they love die”.
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The 26-year-old only started eight Premier League games for the Reds last season and will be happy to return to the Liberty Stadium if more regular action is on offer. The club is different to how it was.
