West Brom hope to have new owners by the end of the month after the granting of exclusive negotiations to an unnamed bidder, BBC reported.
Jeremy Peace, who owns 88 per cent of the club, has been chairman for 13 years, and said in February he would be willing to sell “if it was right for the club”.
West Brom finished 12th last season under Tony Pulis.
Exclusivity allows only the bidding party to submit a formal bid. If Peace is happy with the amount offered, then the bidder has up to six weeks to complete the deal.
Since Peace became chairman in 2003 the Baggies have spent only four years outside the top flight. The club reported pre-tax profits of £14.7m for the year ending June 30, 2014.
Rogic moves on from ‘nightmare’
Celtic midfielder Tom Rogic is looking to put a “nightmare” 12 months behind him and finally kick-start his Celtic career.
The 22-year-old saw his chance to impress Ronny Deila wiped out by a serious groin injury. Now he is determined to put the past behind him and earn a place in Deila’s midfield.
“It was a bit of a nightmare,” Rogic said.
“I don’t want to get into it too much. I had a serious groin injury. I feel I’ve come out the other side of that. It was a pretty testing time. I never thought it would be as long as it was.”
Rogic impressed in Celtic’s 2-0 friendly win over Den Bosch in midweek and started again for their 5-3 defeat by Dukla Prague on Saturday.
Mina joins Valencia
Valencia have signed Spain Under-19 international Santi Mina from Celta Vigo.
The 19-year-old forward signed a six-year contract tying him to Valencia until June 30, 2021 after passing his medical with Los Che.
Mina came up through the youth ranks at home-town club Celta before making his Primera Liga debut in February 2013. Last season he scored seven times.
He said: “It’s like I’m in a dream. To come to a great club like Valencia at such a young age isn’t easy, I know the responsibility that I have.”
Robbie Keane stars at Gerrard presentation
Los Angeles Galaxy introduced new signing Steven Gerrard to their crowd on Independence Day but Robbie Keane re-asserted his star billing with a hat-trick in a 4-0 win over Toronto FC.
Gerrard was presented on the field during half-time and told the crowd: “I can’t wait to get my boots on and play in front of you guys.”
He will be eligible to do that from July 18, and the long-serving former Liverpool and England captain will do so targeting silverware in MLS.
“I’ve been in Liverpool all my life. But this is a good place for me to come and enjoy my football.”
U-21 keeper Bond seals Royals switch
Reading have signed goalkeeper Jonathan Bond from Watford for an undisclosed fee. The 22-year-old England U-21 international has put pen to paper on a three-year deal.
Bond, understudy to Brazil international Heurelho Gomes as Watford won promotion last season, was in Gareth Southgate’s England U-21 squad for the recent UEFA Championships.
Reading manager Steve Clarke said: “I’m delighted that we have managed to secure the signature of one of English football’s brightest young goalkeepers.
“Jonathan is at the stage of his career where he needs a new challenge and the opportunity to establish himself as first-choice goalkeeper.”
David Villa fires NY City to win
New York City continued their recent surge as Spaniard David Villa notched two classy goals, including the late winner, in a 2-1 away win over Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer (MLS) yesterday.
The former Spain forward sealed the three points when he curled home a low free-kick in the 82nd minute, five minutes after Argentine Ignacio Piatti had levelled the scores from the penalty spot.
It was New York’s fourth win in five games, a run that has lifted them into play-off contention after a horrible stretch earlier in the season when they went 11 matches without a win.
Micronesia concede 38-0 rout in qualifier
The Federated States of Micronesia’s first appearance at an Oceania Football Confederation tournament went from bad to worse when they were thrashed 38-0 by Fiji in Port Moresby.
Micronesia were also hammered 30-0 by Tahiti on Friday in the Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea, which are doubling as the Oceania qualifying tournament for next year’s Rio Olympics.
Atonio Tuivuna grabbed 10 goals for Fiji’s under-23 side, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Vanuatu in their opening match and were aware they needed to get close to 30 goals to stay in touch with Tahiti in Group A.