EPL side West Bromwich Albion Chair Jeremy Peace will only "sell the club if a deal can be done early in the summer -- otherwise any talks will be put on hold" for at least another year, according to Pat Murphy of the BBC. Groups from China and the U.S. are "believed to be interested in buying the club," with Peace asking for £150M ($223M). Peace is "keen that the process does not drag on, so that the club can plan properly" in the summer transfer window. With another year to go before Premier League clubs "get their hands on a massive TV rights windfall, it is essential that West Brom stay in the top flight" and Football Manager Tony Pulis' experience in that direction is "deemed essential." The interested parties are both "believed to be actively involved in a bid and it is understood their representatives have already been shown around the club and training ground." But the "sticking point" will probably be the asking price. Peace is looking for £150M-plus but potential buyers -- aware that West Brom is a "middle-range Premier League club with no serious expectation of winning trophies - are likely to pitch the bid" at about £110M ($163.4M). The attraction for them is simply to be in the Premier League, with the "accompanying TV riches." With Peace owning almost 90% of the company that owns West Brom, negotiations would be "comparatively straightforward, as only one person would act for the sellers." So the only "complicating factor" remains the price (BBC, 4/7).
