Former lawyer to Donald Trump, Joe Tacopina, is leading a consortium aiming to acquire English League Two club, Tranmere Rovers, with ambitions to replicate Wrexham's rise through the leagues.

The 58-year-old from New York has been in discussions with Tranmere's current owners for over six months, and his proposed takeover is now pending regulatory approval from the English Football League (EFL).

Tacopina has gained prominence in the United States for representing high-profile clients such as the late Michael Jackson, former New York Yankees player Alex Rodriguez, and rapper A$AP Rocky. Additionally, he regularly appears on American television as a legal commentator.

However, Tacopina is not only known for his legal career but also for his involvement in European football. In 2011, he was part of a U.S. consortium that purchased AS Roma, before moving on to Bologna in 2014, and then Venezia, which he guided from the fourth tier to Serie B. For his contributions to Venezia, he was knighted by the city. In 2021, he purchased his fourth Italian club, SPAL.

SPAL, based in Ferrara, were in Serie A as recently as 2020, but were relegated to the third tier last season. The club began the current season with a three-point deduction for missing tax payments in January and February of this year, and Tacopina, as president, received a three-month suspension from the Italian football authorities. SPAL appealed the penalty, citing a banking error as the cause of the late payments, but the punishment was upheld in July.

This sanction is likely a contributing factor in the delay of the EFL's approval of Tacopina's takeover of Tranmere. When questioned by The Athletic about the status of the deal, both Tacopina and the EFL declined to comment, though they acknowledged that discussions are ongoing. A spokesperson for Tranmere Rovers added: "We don’t comment on rumours."

Tranmere Rovers are well-regarded for their financial stability and community involvement. However, despite these strengths, they have struggled to return to their 1990s peak, when they spent a decade in the Championship and reached the play-offs for three consecutive seasons. In recent years, the club has fluctuated between divisions, including a brief stint in the fifth-tier National League in 2015.