DERBY are reportedly in talks with US billionaire Michael Dell over a significant investment in the Championship club.
And the news should excite Rams fans – Dell is the founder and CEO of Dell Technologies and believed to be worth £26.9BILLION.
Michael Dell is believed to be worth £26.9bn and is interested in investing in DerbyCredit: Getty Images – Getty
That lists him as the 25th richest man in the world on the Forbes list – with his wealth even higher than Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour at £23.3bn.
According to The Telegraph, current Derby chairman Mel Morris “has been seeking additional funding for over two years”.
SunSport reported back in October last year how Morris was prepared to sell the club – but was holding out for £60m.
He has previously turned down an offer of £50m from an American consortium.
MORRIS KEEN FOR INVESTMENT
That was fronted by London-based businessman Henry Gabay, and while these talks have tempered, that deal is far from dead in the water.
Rams fan Morris controversially struck a deal to buy the club’s stadium as part of a plan to stay within the Football League’s spending limits.
But he is still open to a large investment or sale.
Dell, 55, is understood to be interested in either a loan, investment or full takeover.
And Derby aren’t the first English club the American billionaire has made a move for.
Along with fellow US-based group MSD Partners, Dell enquired about taking over Sunderland from Stewart Donald, but that turned into a £12m loan instead.
The Telegraph adds that “Derby have been in dialogue with him [Dell] for the last few months and Morris is hopeful of concluding a deal with either of the two interested parties”.
The Rams are sitting in 12th spot in the Championship, with Philippe Cocu’s side only five points outside the play-offs.
Their promotion-hopes have been boosted with the signing of Manchester United Wayne Rooney, who has taken captaincy and scored four goals in 15.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
