A Brum deal for Ellison?

Rumours are rife that Oracle chief Larry Ellison is in the running to acquire Aston Villa FC

Despite owning most of Malibu, it appears that Larry Ellison's latest designs are more humble, as rumours emerge that the billionaire could become the next owner of Aston Villa football club.

According to several reports in the national papers, including the Daily Express, a British consortium linked to Oracle is believed to be one of several in talks with current club owner Randy Lerner.

The club is going through a tough time after a recent 1-0 defeat to Manchester United which cemented their relegation from the Premier League to the Championship.

Just two days later, directors David Bernstein and Mervyn King stepped down from their posts, and the paper revealed that up to 500 staff could lose their jobs at Villa Park as the club goes through a restructure.

Ellison (pictured) has a reported fortune of £35bn, and has made several major investments in sport including US tennis, basketball and the Americas Cup.