Sunderland AFC 'in advanced talks' with American investor over partial takeover - reports

Stewart Donald publicly placed the club up for sale late last year after fans called for a change in the ownership of the Black Cats, who had already been the subject of takeover bids from Mark Campbell and the FPP group.

And now, national reports are claiming that an American investor – not connected to the FPP trio of Glenn Fuhrman, Robert Platek and John Phelan – is in talks over striking a deal.

The Sunday Express claim that Donald is in ‘advanced talks’ with the mystery investor, with a £35million deal on the table.

But the reports suggest that the deal would not be a complete takeover, with the Express claiming that Donald – along with minority shareholders Juan Sartori and Charlie Methven – could all retain a small stake in Sunderland as part of the deal.

The report comes after chief executive Jim Rodwell confirmed that the club remain in a period of exclusivity with a preferred bidder.

Speaking to the #SAFCUnfiltered podcast, he said: “We are currently in a period of exclusivity.

"I think things have gone on longer than anyone would have liked, predominantly due to COVID and the uncertainty caused by COVID.

"The party that we're in exclusivity with have shown us proof of funds - and they're the only people to actually do so. Lots of people are all over the internet claiming they're close to buying the football club, but only one party has ever shown us proof of funds and given us a credible plan to take the football club forward - and that's the party that we're currently in exclusivity with.

"They've been uber-professional throughout the period but the simple fact remains - we are in a COVID world. We haven't got fans in the stadium, we haven't got a bailout at the moment and it's making matters very difficult.

“Until we get some kind of certainty from probably government, these matters are going to progress I guess.”

It is understood the party in exclusivity is neither Campbell nor William Storey, both of whom have been touted as potential buyers.

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