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Indonesian Investors Closing In On Oxford Takeover

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Oxford United are subject to takeover talks from a consortium of Indonesian investors, according to reports from The Telegraph’s Jason Burt and the Oxford Mail.

Both reports suggest that former board member Erick Thohir, who is also the former owner of Inter Milan, is leading the proposed takeover.

The group of Indonesian investors are believed to have made an offer for a 51 per cent share in the club. According to the Oxford Mail, a transaction of the club could be complete within the coming weeks.

The current board at Oxford consists of chairman Sumrith ‘Tiger’ Thanakarnjanasuth, German Horst Geicke and Indonesia-based Anindya Bakrie. The latter became a director in April 2019 and has connections to former board member, Thohir.

Bakrie has also worked alongside Thohir in Indonesia, running a television network. Thohir joined the board in November 2018 but left his role at the club in October 2019 after being appointed Indonesia’s ‘state-owned enterprises minister.’

The 50-year-old also previously owned DC United in the MLS and was involved with NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers. He held his position as owner of Inter Milan from 2013 and 2019.

Talks are close to completion, according to both reports, but they are finalising negotiations with ‘Tiger’, who took control of the club in February 2018.

Neither Oxford nor Thanakarnjanasuth have made a comment regarding the proposed takeover. Oxford are currently eighth in League one and find themselves just two points outside the playoffs.

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