It looks like the Chinese Government has all but given up hope of hosting the World Cup and they've advised Lai and others to get rid of their investment. WBA, Wolves & Southampton have majority shareholders.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.footballinsider247.com/west-brom-maguire-cultural-shift-in-china-leads-lai-to-pull-plug-on-wba/amp/
This is interesting but nothing particularly new.
Official Chinese interest in football has cooled across the board and the thing that they most want progress on the international stage has evaded them. It was very apparent that Chinese investors splurging £100m's on overseas clubs or for that matter the Chinese Super League wasn't going to move that dial and as such the Chinese Government has been reining in their business community for some years. We may have reached the point where they are nudging them to disinvest but it is very unlikely to be a formal announcement.
Obviously this might prompt Lai to sell up but it doesn't alter the basic financial dynamics of the situation.
It was interesting that the two prospective buyers (being generally and vaguely in the market for an English club) are both American. Campbell has already been discussed on here and until he puts a serious bid together I think we can dismiss him as a serial tyre kicker (I am being kind here).
DaGrosa has a track record in Europe. He talks a good game. The vision is a Red Bull style group of clubs at various levels across leagues all of which makes perfect sense and requires a flagship top five league team. I suspect being the Group's flagship is generally good maybe being in the supporting cast less so.
He bought Bordeaux for $115m in 2018. The purchase was in partnership two other Private Equity firms King Street Capital Management and Fortress Investment Group (the firm founded by Villa joint owner Wes Edens). Things were a little chaotic behind the scenes and after just 12 months DaGrosa sold the bulk of his interest to the other partners (much muttering about paying too much and exaggerating the likely returns) he retains a 14% stake in Bordeaux.
None of the above are publicly traded entities so who paid what to whom is not clear but I suspect DaGrosa got his fingers burnt. He seems to be interested in buying another club but absolutely won't pay a premium price. This is a business man who buys distressed assets gives them a quick spit and polish and sells them on. He is not the fantasy owner that many on here seem to want.
