Aston Villa’s ownership group, V Sports, are advancing in talks to acquire a controlling stake in French second-division club, FC Annecy. Villa were leaning on the V Sports group, led by Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris, to integrate Annecy into its multi-club umbrella, which included Japanese club Vissel Kobe and Real Union of Spain. V Sports’ director of global football development, Matthew Kidson, was tasked with connecting the clubs together, even if the partnership, at the time, was informal. However, V Sports is closing in on acquiring a controlling stake in Annecy, having held discussions and intending to finalise the agreement in recent months. V Sports have also been looking at other clubs in Europe. A formal investment would help to accelerate plans with Villa and other clubs in its stable. This will include a continuation of young Villa players moving to France, either on loan or permanently, plus improvements to Annecy’s facilities and possibly its 15,600-capac...