Burnley in line to join multi-club scene after owner bids for stake in Espanyol

Advanced negotiations with Barcelona-based club

Burnley would get preferential access to players

Burnley’s owner is in advanced negotiations about buying a stake in the Spanish club Espanyol in what would become the Premier League’s latest multi-club operation.

Espanyol would be the second club owned by ALK Capital, the investment company operated by Burnley’s owner, Alan Pace, whose website says its ambition is to establish a multi-club sports platform. The American businessman previously owned Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer before selling up to buy Burnley, paying £170m for 84% of the club in December 2020.