Crystal Palace in new £170m talks to sell John Textor stake in bid to stay in Europa League | OneFootball

Textor considering offers to sell Eagle Football Group’s stake in Palace to clear path for club to play in Europe next season

Crystal Palace are in talks to sell Eagle Football Group’s 43 per cent stake in the club in a bid to clear the path for them to play in the Europa League next season.

A consortium of sport and entertainment executives, which includes the NBA star Jimmy Butler, is also expected to make an offer for Palace, according to the Atheltic.

FA Cup winners Palace are facing the threat of expulsion from the Europa League because Textor also owns a majority stake in Ligue 1 side Lyon.

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson

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Although Textor has no day-to-day involvement in the running of Palace, UEFA rules prevent two teams with the same ownership playing in the same competition.

But Textor is now ready to sell his stake in Palace and is considering sale offers.

One offer has been tabled by New York Jets owner Johnson, who bought the NFL franchise in 2000 and is well-known in UK politics as a long-time Republican Party donor.

Another group that includes NBA star Butler is led by former Morgan Stanley sports executive Bejan Esmaili and former Roc Nation attorney Wajid Mir.

NBA star Jimmy Butler

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UEFA is set to inform Palace whether they are in breach of its multi-club ownership rules by June 30.

But the matter may then be taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which would delay a final verdict.