EPL side Aston Villa is being targeted by a wealthy Chinese consortium that wants "to complete a takeover immediately after the FA Cup final," according to James Nursey of the London DAILY MIRROR. The group has also held talks with neighboring West Brom "as a back-up" plan as the move for Villa would depend on it avoiding relegation. The consortium already has representatives in England and is "doing due diligence ahead of completing a Villa deal in early June." It has been at the training ground and toured the club as wantaway Owner Randy Lerner "is willing to sell" for around £150M ($225M). West Brom Chair Jeremy Peace "has also put his club up for sale" -- and the same Chinese group is interested in the club as an alternative. Peace, who has shown the group around its stadium and facilities, "is holding out" for upwards of £100M ($150M) (DAILY MIRROR, 4/20). XINHUA reported Italy-China Chamber of Commerce VP Fu Yixiang said that a Chinese company "launched a crowdfunding initiative" to raise at least €1B ($1.08B) to buy AC Milan. Fu said that five companies "have been linked to a possible takeover of the club." Four are based in China -- beverage maker Wahaha, real estate developer Wanda, telecom company Huawei and e-commerce magnate Alibaba, "and the other interested is a Thai company" (XINHUA, 4/22).
