What is the latest news with Mike Ashley and Derby County amid rumours he’s eyeing takeover?

Derby County and Chris Kirchner have been working on the club’s takeover for some time now, as the Rams pray for a positive outcome at the end of a turbulent season. 

Kirchner has reportedly been granted a period of exclusivity by Derby’s administrators, Quantuma, to try and complete the takeover of the club.

However, as per Sky Sports, if a takeover is not completed by Saturday, the administrators could be forced to re-open the bidding process when it comes to the ownership of the club.

That brings us to Mike Ashley, the former Newcastle United owner whose name will not disappear when it comes to the Derby takeover.

Sky Sports report how Ashley has made “renewed contact” with Derby’s administrators and is still keen to complete a takeover of the club.

Furthermore, a report from Alan Nixon earlier in the week has confirmed that Ashley could also look to strike a deal with Mel Morris over Pride Park – a hurdle that Kirchner has, so far, failed to overcome.

It’s claimed in that report that Ashley’s offer for Derby is less than Kirchner’s but the fact he can settle the ongoing issue surrounding the ground works in his favour.

Both Kirchner and Ashley are “frustrated” by the time the takeover is taking, as per Sky Sports.

As things stand, it seems that Kirchner will be given the opportunity to finally conclude this saga during this period of exclusivity.

Ashley, though, doesn’t appear like he will go away and is lingering in the background as Derby’s takeover drags on beyond the end of the 2021/22 season.

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