A Chinese investment group are closing in on a £100 million takeover at Aston Villa, according to our sister title, the Sunday People.
Villa could be under new ownership within the next fortnight, the report claims.
Negotiations are said to be entering the final phase, as unwanted owner Randy Lerner looks to hand over control of the relegated club.
Chairman Steve Hollis confirmed in a statement yesterday that talks were progressing.
The Sunday People article says the takeover group have been at the club all week and were present at today’s 0-0 draw with Newcastle United at Villa Park.
The Chinese bidders are a private equity firm who have studied Leicester City’s success.
Nigel Pearson remains the favourite to take over as manager at Villa as they prepare for life in the Championship.
Hollis said: “We are in very constructive negotiations which could lead to the sale of the club to a new owner.
“There has been no shortage of parties who would like to own Aston Villa but our negotiations are now with those parties that we believe will have the passion and ambition to return the club to winning the highest honours in European football.
“The appointment of the manager is at this time inextricably linked to the current negotiations.”
TURBOII030
Aston Villa’s Tony Xia era over as Chinese billionaire fails to pay US$36 million debt to former owner Randy Lerner
Fee payable on promotion was part of May 2016 deal to take over at Villa Park
Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens now own club outright and Xia has left role as director
https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3022329/aston-villas-tony-xia-era-over-chinese-billionaire-fails-pay-us36
中国老板清空英超队股份 买入三年赔了5000万镑
夏建统清空维拉股份
维拉今夏升入英超后，投资过亿引援，买入了多达12名球员。但维拉的一切，如今都和中资没有关系了。
BBC透露，中国商人夏建统彻底清空了维拉的股份，他至此从维拉抽身。2016年夏天，夏建统支付7600万英镑买下维拉。随后的两个赛季，维拉都未能升入英超，再加上球队一直投入不菲，这让夏建统难以为继。
到了2018年，夏建统出售了维拉55%的股份，价格为3000万英镑，买主是埃及首富、亿万富翁纳瑟夫萨维里斯(Nassef Sawiris)和美国商人韦斯埃登斯(Wes Edens)。
今年夏天，维拉成功升入英超，但这对夏建统来说不是好消息。2016年他购买维拉时和前任老板约定，如果球队在三年内升超，那他还得支付前任老板3000万英镑。如今夏建统无力支付这笔钱，维拉新老板代为支付了这笔钱。不仅如此，他就此接手了夏建统手中剩余的维拉股份，这位中国商人至此清空了维拉股份。
BBC表示，在接手维拉之后，夏建统一共亏损了5000万英镑，约合4.25亿人民币。
Aston Villa takeover: Chinese businessman Dr Tony Xia agrees £60m deal http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36327300 Chinese businessman Dr Tony Xia has agreed to buy relegated Aston Villa for £60m. The deal, which is subject to Football League approval, would see Xia take 100% ownership and become chairman. American billionaire Randy Lerner, who bought Villa in 2006 for £62.2m, put the club up for sale in 2014. A club statement said Lerner “sought the right owner to take care of the club and restore fortunes” and believes Xia is an “excellent choice”. The Midlands club’s new manager – likely to be Nigel Pearson or… Read more »
王健林或收购维拉
5月8日讯 据英国《每日镜报》消息，英超老牌劲旅阿斯顿维拉接近以1亿英镑的价格出售给中国投资者，双方甚至有望在未来两周内达成协议，虽然英媒没有透露维拉背后的买主，但是之前有消息称，大连万达集团的老板王健林有意收购这支英国王室支持的老牌劲旅。
阿斯顿维拉是英格兰的一支老牌劲旅，曾经七次获得顶级联赛冠军，也曾经七次获得英格兰足总杯冠军。不过本赛季，维拉的战绩糟糕，目前早早锁定一个降级的名额，下个赛季，维拉将征战英冠联赛。值得一提的是，维拉拥有诸多大牌球迷，包括英国皇室的威廉王子、英国首相卡梅伦、奥斯卡影帝汤姆-汉克斯等等。
虽然维拉目前的财政状况非常糟糕，但是这支球队有望迎来新生，《每日镜报》透露，一支中国财团准备收购维拉俱乐部，且开出了1亿英镑的转让价格。在本周五，维拉主席霍利斯就已经承认，双方的谈判正在进行中，英媒甚至透露，双方最快在未来两周内就会达成协议，而中国投资者也观看了英超第37轮维拉对阵纽卡斯尔的比赛。
《每日镜报》透露，中国投资者希望从这样的交易里得到回报，他们正在研究莱斯特城的成功，认为只要找到合适的人选，就有可能获得收益。
英媒没有透露哪支中国财团有意收购维拉，但是英国媒体《伯明翰邮报》报道称，收购方可能是大连万达董