Radrizzani is close to complete control as Wood stays

THE takeover of Leeds United is close to being completed as the club’s player-of-the-year, Chris Wood, says he expects to remain at Elland Road for the next Championship season.

Andrea Radrizzani expects to take 100 per cent control of Leeds within the next fortnight, the Italian has told a Sardinian newspaper. Radrizzani was quoted by

Corriere della Serra as saying his buy-out of Massimo Cellino would be complete “within 10 days, a maximum of two weeks”, leaving no doubt that Cellino’s three-year reign as United owner is almost at an end.

Cellino is poised to sell all of his remaining shares to Radrizzani, having negotiated a 50-50 split of equity with his compatriot in January.

Both sides have been working towards a quick completion of the deal and are in the final stages of resolving a number of minor legal issues.

Cellino has held the reins at Elland Road since his original purchase of a 75 per cent stake from Gulf Finance House in 2014 but a full sale to Radrizzani was discussed when the latter first invested at the turn of the year.

The 42-year-old’s deal gave him the right to purchase Cellino’s shares at the end of this season and Radrizzani aimed to complete the process before the beginning of June after Leeds narrowly failed to qualify for the Championship play-offs.

Former Cagliari owner Cellino is again being heavily linked with a move to buy Serie B side Brescia once the sale to Radrizzani is complete.

Wood, meanwhile, became only the sixth Leeds player to hit the 30 mark in a season and took his own career tally of goals onto 100 with the equaliser in United’s final game of the season at Wiagn Athletic.

That form is likely to attract interest from the Premier League when the transfer window opens but Wood’s contract at Leeds – a four year deal signed after his £3m transfer from Leicester City in 2015 – runs for another two seasons and he intimated that he would remain at Elland Road in the hope of another challenge for promotion next season.

Wood said: “I’ve been working hard all season to do what we have been doing and trying to get promoted to the Premier League.

“It’s been a great season at the end of the day and we’re all looking to build next season now.”

Reports last night suggested Leeds have begun internal disciplinary proceedings against Charlie Taylor following his refusal to play in Sunday’s Sky Bet Championship game at Wigan.