FOLEY FANCIES THE CHERRIES

THE Las Vegas businessman at the centre of a £150million takeover attempt at Bournemouth first revealed by Sportsmail is Bill Foley — the owner of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights.

Discussions are said to be heading towards a positive conclusion, with sources indicating a deal could be completed by the World Cup. However, before any takeover can be rubber-stamped, Foley will likely have to prove there is no conflict of interest amid his investment links with Crystal Palace. In June, Foley signed a non-binding letter of intent to invest in Palace co-owner John Textor’s Eagle Football Holdings LLC .

If a deal goes through, half the Premier League would have American owners with Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester City all having either majority or minority shareholders from the USA.