A proposed sale of Aston Villa has reportedly taken a step closer after a group of Villans-supporting businessmen were given access to the club's accounts.

The consortium is said to be carrying out due diligence and is now in pole position to purchase the club from Randy Lerner in a potential £100m deal.

Lerner has come under increasing pressure to sell the Championship-bound outfit following ongoing turmoil both on and off the field, with the latest twist seeing David Bernstein and Sir Mervyn King both resign from the board.

Significant progress has already been made to sell the club that the American businessman has owned for almost a decade, according to Sky Sports News, and as many as eight groups have made their interest known.

It is claimed that negotiations with lawyers continued on Thursday, meaning that a potential deal could be struck before the weekend.