Sources familiar with the matter said that talks over a planned takeover of EPL side Crystal Palace by a group of American businessman have "broken down," according to Massoudi, Moore & Sender of the FINANCIAL TIMES. These sources said that "advanced discussions between the club and an investor group led by US billionaire Josh Harris, co-founder of the private equity firm Apollo Global Management, had unravelled in the past several weeks." It was unclear whether Harris and the group, which includes senior Blackstone exec David Blitzer, were "trying to salvage a deal with Crystal Palace or whether they had their sights set on another club." The investor group had been in "on-and-off talks with the club for much of the Premier League season." One of the people familiar with the matter said that Crystal Palace's owners "might have sought better terms" after the Premier League struck a record £5B ($7.8B) deal with broadcasters in February for the U.K. rights to "football's most lucrative competition." Crystal Palace declined to comment (FT, 5/21).
