Manchester City has made an offer to open data platform Openda for $60 million, according to reports. The deal is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.
The offer comes after Lens, a French football club based in Lens, France, rejected an earlier bid from the English Premier League club. In response, Lens refused to sell the club to Manchester City for a low price.
According to Lens CEO Jean-Marc Felber, they have no plans to sell the club and are committed to maintaining their independence. "We will not compromise on our ownership," he said.
However, Lens did reveal that they had received interest from other clubs, including Manchester City, but were not interested in selling to them either.
Openda, which was founded in 2015, provides cloud-based software solutions for sports teams and organizations. The company has been growing rapidly in recent years and has attracted the attention of several major players in the industry.
Manchester City's interest in Openda comes at a time when the club is looking to expand its digital presence and reach new audiences through innovative technology. The offer from Lens may have been a sign that Manchester City would need to step up their game if they want to secure a deal with Openda.
Overall, this situation highlights the importance of having a strong and independent ownership structure for sports clubs. It also shows how important it is for clubs to be able to make strategic decisions without external pressure or interference.