• Premier League

City eyeing £8.7m buy-out of Australian side

ESPN staff
August 26, 2013
Western Sydney Warriors won the A-League Premiership last season © Getty Images
Enlarge

Manchester City are reportedly weighing up the possibility of buying Australian side Western Sydney Wanderers in an £8.7 million deal.

Wanderers, owned by Football Federation Australia, won the A-League Premiership at their first attempt after being formed in 2012. They also reached the A-League grand final, where they lost to Central Coast Mariners.

City and one other unnamed Premier League club are looking into buying a stake in the club - and could even complete a buy-out - according to the Australian Financial Review.

Investment bank UBS have been charged by Australian football's governing body with finding a buyer for the club before the A-League gets underway again in October.

UBS have put together a 50-page booklet for prospective buyers detailing the club's assets, which include the 20,000-capacity Parramatta Stadium. Wanderers are also set to compete in the Asian Champions League this season.

City - who announced a groundbreaking partnership with the New York Yankees to create MLS franchise New York City Football Club - are looking to further increase their worldwide presence, but face competition from several Australian parties to buy the A-League club.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
Close