Manchester City owners are poised to finalise a deal to buy Indian Super League side Mumbai City ahead of their new season starting next month.
The City Football Group have held talks with a number of Indian clubs as they seek to expand their global reach.
Mumbai City are now their preferred choice and negotiations with the club's CEO Indranil Das Blah are almost complete.
As well as their flagship club City, the CFG already owns New York City FC, Melbourne City, Club Atletico Torque in Uruguay and Chinese side Sichuan Jiuniu, as well as holding a stake in Spanish club Girona and Japanese side Yokohama F Marinos.
City's chief executive Ferran Soriano confirmed in March that the group wanted to get into the Indian market this year.
“We have some interest in some markets and countries where there is a genuine football passion and opportunities like India,” said Soriano.
India appeals with the lure of tapping into the nation's 1.3billion population.
Mumbai start their season away at Kerala Blasters on October 24.
The Indian Super League organisation intend to hire a high-profile CEO before the start of the season.
Names in the frame include ex-Sunderland CEO Martin Bain who featured prominently in the Netflix production about the club's successive relegations.
