MANCHESTER/NEW YORK: Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan has entered “final negotiations” to acquire Major League Soccer’s (MLS) New York expansion franchise.

The New York Times, citing two people with knowledge of the talks, reports Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group is prepared to pay a US$100 million franchise fee for the League’s 20^th team. The fee would more than double the $40 million paid for the Montreal Impact, which became the 19^th MLS franchise when it began play last year. The League is said to want to make the announcement before May 25, when Manchester City is scheduled to play a friendly game at Yankee Stadium against Chelsea.

MLS has previously outlined its hope that a 20^th team will begin play in 2016 at a new stadium at a 10-acre site in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park – creating a rivalry with the New York Red Bulls. After months of public hearings, applications and discussions, the New York Times states a deal for the privately financed $340 million stadium, which would hold 25,000 spectators and could be expanded to 35,000, may be completed in several weeks.

Speaking last week, MLS commissioner Don Garber said he hoped to make an announcement regarding the stadium and the team in four to six weeks’ time.

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Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Man City owner closing in on deal for New York MLS franchise – report  Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan has entered “final negotiations” to buy Major League Soccer’s (MLS) New York expansion team, according to the New York Times.   The Abu Dhabi United Group is reportedly willing to pay US$100 million for the team…. read more Allianz opens up naming rights to fans after sealing Palmeiras stadium deal Allianz has formalised a 20-year naming rights deal for the new stadium of Brazilian giant Palmeiras, with the German insurance firm set to allow the club’s fans to decide the name of the venue…. read more Ooredoo rejects Liverpool sponsorship reports Qatari telecommunications firm Ooredoo has moved to deny reports that it is in talks with Liverpool over a joint shirt and stadium naming rights sponsorship deal…. read more UEFA issues guidelines over Euro 2020 bid conduct UEFA has moved to head off the possibility of excessive lobbying during the bidding process for Euro 2020 by banning national associations from offering incentives or cash gifts to UEFA members…. read more UEFA seeks to avoid further fixture clashes after FA action UEFA has announced it will establish a working group to ensure member associations avoid fixture clashes between domestic and European games, after the English Football Association (FA) was disciplined for a breach of regulations…. read more Prefer your news online? Stopped receiving your usual copy? Click here! Football management – a precarious profession Anil Matharu, senior associate in the Sports Group at Harbottle & Lewis LLP, discusses football management and employment law…. Sacking football managers can be an expensive and reputationally damaging business for both clubs and managers. There are, however, a number of ways in which the effects of what has traditionally been considered as part and parcel of the football industry can be mitigated…. read more