Derby scrap negotiations with Spanish businessman Erik Alonso over proposed takeover
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Derby County are scrapping negotiations with Spanish businessman Erik Alonso over the proposed takeover of the Championship club.
Mel Morris, the Derby owner, is set to abandon talks with Alonso amid concerns over whether a deal can be concluded, with an American consortium now back in dialogue.
Alonso has proved a controversial figure since announcing his intention to buy Derby, insisting he has the funds required to take charge of the club.
The 29-year-old, and Derby, announced on April 7 that they had agreed a takeover with his company No Limits Sport Limited.
Days later he insisted his ultimate goal was to lead Derby into the Champions League.
"My goal is to make Derby big again and get back to the Premier League as soon as possible," he told BBC Radio Derby.
But it is understood a deal is now off and Morris is talking to other interested parties with a consortium from America now back in the frame.
Derby declined to comment on Thursday evening.
Alonso has been active on social media since expressing his desire to buy the club, but endured embarrassment earlier this week when he deleted his Twitter account, hours after being accused of re-using footage of a large property included in a TikTok video to claim it was his own house.
It emerged a lavish home which was supposedly his property was revealed to belong to an estate agent in Los Angeles. Alonso is understood to have alleged that his account had been hacked.
Alonso was previously linked with a bid to buy Sheffield Wednesday earlier this season.
The latest development comes after a torrid week for Derby, who avoided relegation from the Championship on the final day by one point.
On Tuesday it emerged that the EFL had won their appeal against Derby over misconduct charges, with the club facing a potential points deduction next season.
Derby have also this week lost their bitter legal row with former captain Richard Keogh, being ordered to pay around £2million in compensation by a tribunal.
