Hong Kong-Based Rui Kang On Verge Of $108M Takeover Of Aston Villa

Relegated EPL side Aston Villa is "set to be taken over by a Chinese consortium within the next few days," paving the way for former Liverpool Dir of Football Damien Comolli to return to English football, according to David Anderson of the London DAILY MIRROR. The Rui Kang Group is close to agreeing to a £75M ($108.4M) deal with club Owner Randy Lerner for the club. And the Chinese "want Comolli to lead football operations as the Villans' technical director." The 43-year-old, who has been out of the game since leaving Liverpool in April '12, would replace Director of Scouting & Player Recruitment Paddy Riley. Hong Kong-based Rui Kang is owned by the Chinese government and deals "mainly in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products" but is "keen to diversify into football." It tried to buy Villa last year, "but Lerner pulled out of the deal when the Chinese Stock Market crashed." Rui Kang has maintained its interest and has "gone through due diligence on Villa’s accounts" (DAILY MIRROR, 5/11).