Derby in ‘talks with US billionaire Michael Dell’ – worth £26.9BILLION – over investing in club
DERBY are reportedly in talks with US billionaire Michael Dell over a significant investment in the Championship club.
And the news should excite Rams fans - Dell is the founder and CEO of Dell Technologies and believed to be worth £26.9BILLION.
That lists him as the 25th richest man in the world on the Forbes list - with his wealth even higher than Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour at £23.3bn.
According to , current Derby chairman Mel Morris "has been seeking additional funding for over two years".
SunSport reported back in October last year how Morris was prepared to sell the club - but was holding out for £60m.
He has previously turned down an offer of £50m from an American consortium.
MORRIS KEEN FOR INVESTMENT
That was fronted by London-based businessman Henry Gabay, and while these talks have tempered, that deal is far from dead in the water.
Rams fan Morris controversially struck a deal to buy the club’s stadium as part of a plan to stay within the Football League’s spending limits.
But he is still open to a large investment or sale.
Dell, 55, is understood to be interested in either a loan, investment or full takeover.
And Derby aren't the first English club the American billionaire has made a move for.
Along with fellow US-based group MSD Partners, Dell enquired about taking over Sunderland from Stewart Donald, but that turned into a £12m loan instead.
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The Telegraph adds that "Derby have been in dialogue with him [Dell] for the last few months and Morris is hopeful of concluding a deal with either of the two interested parties".
The Rams are sitting in 12th spot in the Championship, with Philippe Cocu's side only five points outside the play-offs.
Their promotion-hopes have been boosted with the signing of Manchester United Wayne Rooney, who has taken captaincy and scored four goals in 15.