Inter owners Suning are pursuing negotiations over the sale of the club to British equity firm BC Partners, despite a wide difference in value between the two parties.
The Chinese retail conglomerate are looking to offload the Nerazzurri and have been in discussions with BC Partners over a sale, with the London-based firm granted exclusivity to access the club’s accounts last month.
As reported in today’s newspaper edition of Corriere dello Sport, BC Partners’ current offer of €700 million is €200m short of Suning’s valuation, but negotiations are continuing and the deal has far from collapsed.
Of greater concern to Suning is a number of outstanding debts that must be cleared by March 31, or Inter face the risk of suspension from European competition next season.
Governing body UEFA will only grant licenses to clubs that are up to date on payments, with Inter reaching an agreement to delay a €10m instalment for the transfer of Achraf Hakimi from Real Madrid until next month.
Meanwhile, Suning are looking to raise funds to pay an instalment of the interest on a bond of €375m taken out, prompting suggestions that the pressure to meet their financial obligations may expedite an agreement with BC Partners.
Alternatively, Suning will look to bring investors into the club to cover these costs, with US firm Fortress suggested in a partnership with UAE-based Mubadala.