Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino is expected to ratify a 50 per cent sale of the club to Italian businessman Andrea Radrizzani this week.

Radrizzani, who acted as an adviser on the sale of Inter Milan to Chinese owners Suning, began negotiations with Cellino in August and was at the recent Championship match with Newcastle United, alongside his company's head of investments and strategy Andre Tegner and associate Marco Auletta.

He has negotiated a 50 per cent share with Cellino which is understood to include an option to buy the remaining 50 per cent should Leeds stay in the Championship.

Massimo Cellino is close to ratifying a 50 per cent sale of Leeds United Football Club

However, there is no current option to buy the remaining 50 per cent should Leeds go up.

One of Radrizzani's first tasks will be to push for a new contract for manager Garry Monk. The 37-year-old has taken Leeds to fifth position in the Championship and the quarter finals of the EFL Cup, however, his contract runs out at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, on the pitch, Leeds got back to winning ways on Saturday evening as they beat Aston Villa 2-0 at Elland Road.

Kemar Roofe and Chris Wood both scored as Monk's men moved up to fourth in the Championship table.

They are now two points below Reading in third place and seven points away from Brighton in the automatic promotion places.

Andrea Radrizzani (not pictured) is in negotiations to buy 50 per cent of Leeds United