Derby County manager Wayne Rooney said he understands a deal to buy the club out of administration was imminent, but said he was unsure who the buyer might be following reports Mike Ashley had made an offer.
Ashley, the former Newcastle United owner, has been linked with a £50 million bid for the Championship club, who were knocked out of the FA Cup at Coventry on Saturday.
Rooney said: “I know nothing about it. Honestly I don’t.
“I know it’s very close to something being announced due to my conversations with the administrators.
“In terms of personnel and who that is, I can honestly stand here and say I don’t know.”
Dominic Hyam scored his first goal since the final day of last season as the 1987 winners claimed a spot in round four.
The loss left bottom-placed Derby to focus on their great escape in the league, with the Rams 11 points from safety after their 21-point deduction for going into administration earlier in the season.
DerbyshireLive has reported that the rumoured bid that Ashley was preparing would be the largest so far tabled to Quantuma, the Rams ' administrators, and apparently comes after advanced talks between the two parties.
A consortium headed by former Rams chairman Andy Appleby also has an offer for the club on the table, it said.
