Louis Tomlinson is in talks to buy his hometown football club Doncaster Rovers.
The One Direction singer, 22, who is a life-long fan of the team and played for the reserves in February, is reportedly setting up a trust with former owner John Ryan and is bidding to become co-chairman to help the struggling club.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "This is his passion project – and it will happen. He’s putting everything into it because of his love for the side.
"John is the business brains. He’s incredibly experienced and Louis is learning so much from him.
"They want the deal to go through by July in time for the start of the new season. It’s at an advanced stage."
John, a multi-millionaire, already has a quarter share in the club and previously sold it to a group called Keepmoat but plans to become co-chairman with Louis, who would be the first pop star to own a football club since Elton John bought Watford in 1976.
Meanwhile, Louis, who was born in Doncaster in South Yorkshire, appeared in a controversial video this week appearing to smoke a joint with band mate Zayn Malik while on tour in Peru and he is reportedly worried the scandal could affect his chances of securing the club.
The source explained: "The timing of the Peru video has really upset him because he doesn’t want anything to jeopardise the deal, which is very commercially sensitive and worth a seven-figure sum."
Louis drew an extra 2,000 fans to the Keepmoat Stadium when he played for the reserves and the Rovers hope the star could attract new investors after the team was relegated from the Championship to League One.
The insider added: "He and John have very ambitious plans for the club. They want to get back to the Championship within a year, and into the Premiership within three years."
Louis Tomlinson to buy football club
