<!--Article Start--> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="document jq_ColDocument jq_ShareArea"> <div class="tooltipContent"> <div class="scrollContent jq_Content jq_langdir tinyscrollbar doctooltip-y fontsize_0"> <div class="viewport"> <div class="overview"> <h3 style="text-align: justify">A consortium led by two US technology investors is negotiating to buy Everton Football Club for an estimated A?200 million (272 million euros, $297 million), The Times newspaper reported on Wednesday.</h3> <p style="text-align: justify">The report said the group had signed a preliminary agreement with owner and chairman Bill Kenwright and was checking the club's accounts with the aim of completing a takeover within the next six weeks.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">The agreement means the investors have been given time for exclusive talks on the deal.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">The consortium is led by John J. Moores and Charles Noell, co-founders of venture capital firm JMI Equity.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">The 71-year-old Moores, who is also the founder of business software firm BMC, bought the San Diego Padres baseball team in 1994 and sold it in 2012.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Contacted by AFP, Everton's press office could not immediately comment on the report.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">The report comes after fellow English Premier League side Crystal Palace last week said US investors Josh Harris and David Blitzer had bought a 36-percent stake.</p> <p style="text-align: justify"> . <strong>AFP</strong></p> </div> </div> </div> </div></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <!--Article End-->