Rihanna’s rapper boyfriend A$AP Rocky set to buy English football club for £15million
SHE famously sang about an umbrella – and it seems Rihanna may need one handy for watching some rainy footie games.
I can reveal the Bajan singer’s US rapper boyfriend A$AP Rocky is set to buy into League Two club Tranmere Rovers.
He is part of an investment group headed by celebrity lawyer Joe Tacopina who is fronting the takeover bid.
I’m told the group is set to buy 80 per cent of the Birkenhead-based club, owned by former FA chief Mark Palios, for around £15million.
I also hear rumours that a Disney+ style Welcome To Wrexham documentary about Tranmere could be commissioned for a TV streaming giant.
So fans could well see Diamonds hitmaker RiRi at matches — taking a cue from Blake Lively whose husband Ryan Reynolds bought Wrexham FC with fellow Hollywood star Rob McElhenney in 2020.
The deal comes as New York-based Tacopina defends Rocky on two charges of allegedly shooting childhood pal and fellow rapper A$AP Relli.
A trial is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles later this month. Rocky, who has sons Rza and Riot with RiRi, has pleaded not guilty to two charges of assault with a semi-automatic firearm.
A source told me: “Rocky is tight with Joe and has committed to the Tranmere bid.
“Joe has been to Tranmere matches and Rocky has plans to go over too after the deal is completed.
“We may even see Rihanna watching League Two football.”
Tacopina plans to use his celeb pals to increase interest in the club in the US, which would boost its value should he decide to later sell.
He has watched the transformation of Wrexham from non-league to the top of League One under the ownership of A-listers Ryan and Rob.
My source added: “Joe thinks Tranmere — a famous club, near to Liverpool — is undervalued and that by clever marketing and celebrity endorsement he can transform it. With the likes of Rocky on board, maybe so.”
Geri movie puts girl power in picture
GERI HORNER’s debut novel is set to be made into a Hollywood movie.
Adventure book Rosie Frost And The Falcon Queen, aimed at ten to 13-year-olds, is written under her pen name Geri Halliwell-Horner, and is full of Girl Power.
It follows flame-haired Rosie, who is orphaned and banished to an island.
And I can reveal a string of production houses scrambled for rights to the bestselling book.
A source said: “Geri always thought it could be a film and now her dream has come true as it’s been snapped up by a top production company. She is absolutely over the moon.”
The star is yet to decide who will play Rosie, but she’s open to British and American actresses.
Ginger Spice Geri is making Rosie Frost a trilogy and sources say the other books are also tipped to become films.
One source said: “Rosie is very likeable and the audience will root for her. Geri wanted to create a new kind of hero for young readers and has executed it brilliantly. Some even say Rosie could be as big as Potter.”
Party of the weekend
INTERTALENT RISING at White City House, in West London, on Wednesday night.
WHO WAS THERE: Influencer Maddie Grace Jepson, singer Sydnie Christmas and Traitors winner Harry Clark.
WHAT WE DRANK: Picante and Eastern Fizz cocktails and prosecco.
WHAT SYDNIE SANG: Imagine Dragons hit Believer and Frank Sinatra classic My Way.
Taylor is Hallowqueen of pop
TAYLOR SWIFT dressed for the season as she took to the stage in a pumpkin-coloured bejewelled top and matching green miniskirt.
The superstar dazzled in the sparkly combo as she wowed fans at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, as part of her sell-out Eras Tour.
During her acoustic section, Taylor was joined by Florence Welch for a duet of their song Florida!!!, which features on her Tortured Poets Department record.
And grabbing her guitar, Taylor performed a mash-up of debut single Tim McGraw and Timeless, from the Speak Now album vault.
She is set to play two more nights in Miami before her tour wraps in Vancouver, Canada, in December.
'So liberating'
EMILY ATACK says stripping naked for her new Disney+ series Rivals was “liberating”.
The series – adapted from Jilly Cooper’s 1988 novel – hit the streaming site on Friday.
Emily, who rose to fame as Charlotte in The Inbetweeners, said of being nude: “It is so liberating.
“There are going to be people that spin a negative narrative on it.
“But I’m exactly where I need to be. I’m at work, playing a role, I’m very comfortable and I’m on a closed set.”
Dua fans to get a TV docu special
SHE lit up London’s Royal Albert Hall with a spectacular performance.
But along with a 53-piece orchestra and 14-strong choir, Dua Lipa was joined by a film crew to capture Thursday’s show.
Signs had told fans that all photography and recording of the show was not permitted.
I understand it will be part of a must-see documentary, following a fierce bidding war between the streaming sites.
A source said: “Dua wants to give fans all across the world a taste of her performance as she understands that not everyone can travel to gigs.
“Dua is at the pinnacle of her career and she wants to cement this chapter by creating the docu.”
In 2016 her film See In Blue gave insight into the rising star, who grew up inspired by Christina Aguilera and Stereophonics.
Dua is set to kick off her Radical Optimism tour in Singapore next month and is also set to play Wembley Stadium next June.
The Radical Optimism album dropped in May and hit No1, with hits including Training Season and Houdini.
Dua was joined by Elton John at the historic venue to sing their 2021 hit Cold Heart.
And she gave a shout to actor boyfriend Callum Turner.
Charli: Partying a fine art
CHARLI XCX says clubbing is “sacred” and important to her “creative process”.
Earlier this year, the singer’s No1 Brat album inspired the “Brat summer” trend, which promoted a carefree, party-girl lifestyle.
She said: “I’ve always been adamant that raves and going out is, for me, a hugely important part of my creative process.
“There is this thing like, ‘Oh, that’s not high art or an important part of life – you get wasted and you are a f***-up, or whatever.’
“I see dance floors and clubs as sacred. I have done a lot of self-discovery in those moments. I’ve realised a lot of things about my art and my collaborators when I go out.”
On her wedding plans to The 1975 drummer George Daniel, Charli told SiriusXM: “We just want to have a party. It’s our vibe.”
Liam’s band for sale
A GOLD ring that was originally owned by Liam Gallagher is on sale for £10,000.
His 22-carat claddagh band, an Irish symbol of love – was a gift from his now former wife Patsy Kensit to celebrate their engagement before they married in 1997.
Actress Patsy ordered it from top jeweller Anthony Gray in London’s Hatton Garden and it originally had a ruby stone in it.
But the gold was very delicate and after it got misshapen he returned it to have it remade.
Anthony then gave the old ring to his grandson, Louis Williams, as a gift – and Louis is now selling it on Facebook Marketplace to help him save up to move out of the family home and into a place of his own.
Louis said: “The heart ruby was removed and put into the new ring but my grandparents kept the original.”
Daddy Bieber
JUSTIN BIEBER is happy as can be after becoming a dad with wife Hailey, says his father-in-law, actor Stephen Baldwin.
Stephen said: “I am just glad he connected with a great gal to help him survive, and their happiness, wellbeing, and health is now better than ever.”
He added: “I hung out with him a bit before and I said he could marry my daughter.”
Hailey and Justin announced the birth of their baby, Jack, in August.