Indian tycoon wants to take Beckham to Blackburn

LONDON (AFP) – Indian tycoon Ahsan Ali Syed has made a bid for David Beckham his top priority if he completes his proposed takeover of Premier League club Blackburn Rovers.

Syed is talking to Rovers’ chiefs about a 300 million pounds (468 million dollars) takeover and the Bahrain-based lawyer plans to launch an 80 million pounds (125 million dollars) spending spree on new players once the deal is finalised.

The 36-year-old believes LA Galaxy midfielder Beckham, who has not played for an English club since he left Manchester United seven years ago, is the kind of high-profile name required to kick-start his project to transform Blackburn into title contenders.

“I was 26 when I started following the Premier League. I used to like Blackburn back then and also used to follow Manchester United’s fortunes because of David Beckham,” he told the Daily Mail.

“If my finances allow and his intentions are positive then I would love to take Beckham.”

Blackburn confirmed earlier this week that they had held “a cordial and productive meeting” with representatives of Syed’s investment firm Western Gulf Advisory.

Rovers manager Sam Allardyce would relish the opportunity to spend Syed’s cash, but he insists there is no chance of emulating the feats of Blackburn’s title-winning team of 1995, who were transformed by billionaire owner Jack Walker.

“While our prospective new owner is talking about vast amounts of money compared to what we used to have, it is still way below what Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United or Liverpool have spent over the years,” Allardyce said.

“It is fantastic money for a club like ours, but it is still, in terms of the top boys, not (enough to make) as big an impression as they have made over the last few years.

“The numbers that are being talked about at Blackburn, while fantastic to get us close, are not (equivalent to) the sort of money that Jack Walker first put in, which was more than everyone else at the time.

“He almost bought a whole side with (then manager) Kenny Dalglish that became legendary at this football club and was the best team in the league.”

Allardyce believes a takeover of the club could bring “great success” to Ewood Park, but has already vowed he will not start paying over the odds for players if he is handed a large transfer budget.

“I have to persuade the new owners — if it happens — that we have got to do it relatively slowly, not ‘bang, bang, bang, bang’,” Allardyce said.

“That is a little too quick to turn a football club round to being successful. You try and do it as quick as you possibly can, but you want to do it by making sure we sign the quality of player at the right price.

“Even though we might have millions and millions to spend, we still have to negotiate the right price and not over-spend for a player that is not worth the money.”