Arsenal linked with American billionaire - paper

LONDON, Feb 9 (Reuters) Arsenal are in talks with an American billionaire and could become the latest English Premier League club to forge ties across the Atlantic -- according to a report in The Independent newspaper today.

Arsenal said they had no immediate comment to make on the story.

The Independent said that American billionaire Stan Kroenke, a property magnate, is having talks with Arsenal about forming a groundbreaking partnership with his Major League Soccer (MLS) club, Colorado Rapids.

The report of the proposed deal comes just days after the takeover of Liverpool by American tycoons George Gillet and Tom Hicks, and represents an increasing trend of American businessmen buying into English soccer.

Manchester United and Aston Villa are also owned by American business tycoons but there is no suggestion at this stage that Arsenal would be taken over by any foriegn investor.

According to the Independent's report, the deal would see Colorado being renamed either Arsenal Colorado or Colorado Arsenal, as well as involving plans to change the clubs strip to a similar maroon one worn by Arsenal to commemorate the clubs final year at their old Highbury ground last season. They have since moved to the new 60,000-seater Emirates Stadium.

Both of the proposed names have been trademarked by Kroenke's Sports Enterprises Firm, according to the Indpendent.

The move would foster relations between the clubs in the shape of friendlies, and the chance of trade coaching techniques and aid in the development of players.

The Rapids are already planning to visit England ahead of the 2007 MLS season which starts in April.

Arsenal is involved in various other partnerships, most notably with the Belgian club Beveren and an academy set up in the Ivory Coast.

REUTERS PM RN1727