Clermont Foot 63 close to sale to Franco-American investors led by Jacques d'Arrigo | OneFootball

Clermont Foot 63 are close to being sold to a Franco-American group led by Jacques d'Arrigo, with an agreement struck in recent days, according to L'Équipe. The deal is set to progress unless there is a late twist.

Swiss owner Ahmet Schaefer has been open about his desire to sell. Seven years after buying the Auvergne club from Claude Michy for €4 million, his tenure appears to be nearing its end after months of negotiations.

A rival consortium fronted by Stéphane Tessier, formerly Pablo Longoria's right-hand man at OM, had been in the running. They are not, however, set to land the deal. Since January the group has quietly advanced.

Signs of imminent finalisation include a defined sporting structure. Baptiste Drouet, previously Nantes' head of recruitment, is lined up to become sporting director.

D'Arrigo is a former commercial director at Girondins de Bordeaux before the Gérard Lopez era. He also served as deputy managing director at Union Bordeaux-Bègles.

Source: L'Équipe