Report: Lerner Has Deal In Place To Sell Aston Villa For $220M To U.K. Group

Randy Lerner is set to sell EPL side Aston Villa for £150M ($222M), according to Neil Moxley of the London DAILY MIRROR. Lerner is in final discussions with a U.K.-based group to "off-load the Midlands club." Talks have been ongoing for several months, but it now appears "set in stone that the club will change hands" at the end of the season. Lerner will see a return on the £63.6M ($94.2M) he paid former Aston Villa Chair Doug Ellis to "assume control ten years ago -- receiving a profit" of more than £85M ($126M). But that does not take into account the £300M ($444M) he has spent since then "trying to realise his dream of turning Villa into a force in English football." The asking price "would be slashed upon any relegation but that looks less likely to happen now" following the appointment of Manager Tim Sherwood and the subsequent "brief rally on the field -- although the situation is still too close to comfort" for many employees at Villa Park (DAILY MIRROR, 3/28).