Sheffield United's next opponents Norwich City praise US investor as Lane takeover rumbles on

Mark Attanasio, who has a background in Major League Baseball after becoming involved with the Milwaukee Brewers, was voted onto the City board seven months ago after purchasing a former member’s stake. With the East Anglian outfit’s hierarchy later agreeing to create new shares, Attanasio is expected to become an increasingly powerful figure behind the scenes; something welcomed by Tom Smith, who enjoys a seat at City’s top table.

MORE: Why ‘takeover’ might be taking so long

Telling their supporters’ trust that the City’s leadership has already visited Milwaukee to discuss forging closer ties, Smith said: “So quite a number of our team have already been out to meet with their counterparts, see what we can learn from that sport and the development that has taken place there, part of that continuous drive to learn new things, to grow, to develop, to innovate. We look forward to that partnership continuing with Mark.

City entered the international break seventh in the Championship table, five places behind United. Their owner, Prince Abdullah bin Musa’ad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, is understood to have agreed a sale price with Mmobuosi, who must now await English Football League approval before completing the proposed transaction. The 43-year-old is believed to have put greater fan representation at the heart of his plans, while partnerships could also be developed with footballing institutions in his homeland.

MORE: Mmobuosi bid ‘discussed’ by EFL chief