21 October 2024 , 17:20
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The success of Wrexham and their Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney is drawing more American celebrities to invest in EFL teams, with A$AP Rocky the latest to mount a takeover bid
Superstar singer Rihanna’s boyfriend A$AP Rocky is keen to buy League Two side Tranmere Rovers as he looks to emulate the success of Wrexham.
The Dragons were bought by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in February 2021. The duo have since bankrolled their rise from the National League to League One, as well as producing a successful documentary about the club.
That success has led to several other American celebrities become increasingly interested in English football. Former NFL star Tom Brady has invested in League One side Birmingham City.
Now A$AP Rocky is looking to join them with Merseyside club Tranmere the team he has his eyes on. Rovers are currently 16th in the fourth tier and have never won a major honour or played in the top-flight.
But according to The Sun, A$AP Rocky is part of an investment group who are set to buy them. Celebrity lawyer Joe Tacopina is fronting the takeover bid, which is looking to acquire an 80 percent stake in the club for £15million.
Rovers are currently owned by former FA chief executive Mark Palios, who took a controlling interest in 2014. It is also claimed that a documentary about Tranmere could also be commissioned if the takeover goes through.
The rapper is said to be ’committed’ to the bid for Rovers and has plans to travel to Prenton Park to watch a game. It is said he could even be joined by superstar girlfriend Rihanna.
Tranmere currently sit 16th in League Two ( Image: Getty Images)
Tranmere are actively looking for external investment as they seek to build a new stadium. Speaking in January, Palios insisted further funds would be need for the club to commit to their plans.
“The principal aim of the directors remains to ensure that the club is financially self sustainable and able to achieve on field success without being reliant on annual external investment,” he said.
“The resilience of the club is strong, as can be seen by the financial results achieved, despite the headwinds of the inflationary environment in which we are currently forced to operate. We are broadly at a point where the club can break even while maintaining a competitive playing budget.
“However, to be competitive in higher leagues we feel there is still more work to be done and to that end the club has been progressing key infrastructure projects. These projects include the expansion of the campus, and the potential for a new stadium as an integral part of the regeneration of the Wirral.
“The club does not have the capital to complete these projects without external investment and, to that end, the directors are currently seeking investors who have the means and the appetite to take some or all of these projects forward.”