West Brom is in talks with at least TWO potential buyers and could be sold for around £60m… as unloved owner Gouchuan Lai’s reign nears its end
- Several foreign investors are reportedly interested in buying West Brom
- The club, worth around £60m, is in talks with at least two buyers
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West Bromwich Albion are in talks with at least two possible buyers as the reign of unloved owner Guochuan Lai nears the end.
The financially troubled Championship club are said to be available for around £60 million and have attracted interest from overseas groups, including one believed to be based in the United States.
Takeover specialist David Hinchliffe, described on the website of law firm Walker Morris as ‘one of the best in the field in advising on the takeover and sale of football clubs’, is said to be involved in the process and Hinchliffe was featured among the directors. ‘ box for Albion’s home match against Hull on 4 November.
Hinchliffe and his team have advised on several takeovers, including Evangelos Marinakis’ takeover of Nottingham Forest in 2017 and Andrea Radrizzani’s takeover of Leeds United in the same year. Radrizzani sold his stake to the American Vehicle 49ers Enterprises earlier this year.
Last December, Albion took out a four-year £20m loan from MSD Holdings to cover the drop in turnover due to relegation from the Premier League in 2021.
West Brom are in discussions with at least two potential buyers and there is also interest from overseas suitors
It could mean that Guochuan Lai’s tenure as the club’s owner will soon come to an end.
Carlos Corberan’s side made a fast start to the season and finished fifth in the table after last weekend’s win against Hull
Lai has also failed to repay £10 million in loans.
Lai bought the club from Jeremy Peace in 2016 for £175m, but his lack of investment in recent seasons has made him hugely unpopular with supporters, who have staged protests against his ownership during several matches at The Hawthorns.
Despite fan unrest and uncertainty off the pitch, Albion are enjoying a strong season under their increasingly impressive coach Carlos Corberan.
Last weekend’s victory over Hull moved Albion up to fifth in the table, 10 points behind second-placed Ipswich.
Corberan is picking his side to take on in-form Southampton – a point and a place above – this weekend in the final round of fixtures before the November international break.
West Brom made no comment when contacted by Mail Sport.
They are now just 10 points behind Ipswich, who are second in the standings