Known as the richest match in football, the Championship play-off final has always been a game of huge significance, with promotion to the Premier League on the line.
But this year the stakes could be even higher.
If Sheffield United beat Sunderland on Saturday at Wembley, the level of influence wielded by American investors in the Premier League will reach an unprecedented level, with all three promoted clubs controlled from across the Atlantic.
Remarkably, the Blades would become the 12th US-owned club in the top flight, closer than ever to the two-thirds majority of 14 that is needed to impose changes to the Premier League’s rules.
With a third of EFL clubs also partially or majority US-owned, and a number of English clubs for sale or seeking fresh investment, it may not be long until that tipping point is reached.
What forces are driving this trend? And what are the potential risks of a US-dominated Premier League?
Buying up the Premier League
In December Everton became the 10th Premier League club to fall under American control when they were bought by the Texas-based Friedkin Group, joining Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Manchester United, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Ipswich Town and Fulham.
While Ipswich have since been relegated, the promotion of Leeds United (owned by the investment arm of the San Francisco 49ers) and Burnley (AIK Capital) ensured a majority of top-flight clubs next season will be US-owned, with Sheffield United (COH Sports) potentially to come.
That number could soon grow – especially with US-owned Wrexham and Birmingham City now promoted to next season’s Championship, joining Norwich City, Millwall, Swansea and West Brom.
When did the trend start?
Twenty years ago the Tampa-based Glazer family bought Manchester United in a controversial, highly leveraged buyout, blazing a trail for other US investors.
However, the hundreds of millions of pounds of debt that was loaded on to United, the £1bn it has cost to service it, and the dramatic decline United have suffered since, both on and off the field, has done little for the reputation of those who followed in their footsteps.
The financial issues that defined the ownership of Liverpool by Americans George Gillett and Tom Hicks between 2007 and 2010 – when the club were at risk of going into administration – also added to the notoriety of US investors.