A group of London-based investors has agreed a deal to acquire cash-strapped Spanish second-tier soccer club Sporting Gijon, according to reports in the Spanish press, reports, www.sportspromedia.com/. The unidentified group reportedly has a preliminary takeover agreement in place with Sporting's majority shareholder, José Fernández, and the deal is currently in the process of being finalised.
A Marca report said official confirmation of the transaction 'could still take a few days', although finalisation 'appears to be well underway'.
An AS report suggested the British group, which has been represented in negotiations by Spanish soccer executive Omar Zeidán, would take on the club's debts of around 16 million as part of the deal.
Sporting were promoted to La Liga in 2008 but subsequently suffered relegation to Spain's Segunda División in 2012. Fernández has been linked with the club for the past two decades.
