A Russian oligarch and former KGB agent is expected to strike a deal to buy a controlling stake in the London Evening Standard.
According to reports, Alexander Lebedev is to buy 76% of the newspaper, with the Associated Newspapers group retaining 24%.
If the deal goes ahead, it will be the first time a British newspaper has been owned by a former foreign spy.
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It is understood the deal will be signed with the Daily Mail & General Trust today after a year of secret negotiations with its chairman Lord Rothermere.
DMGT have so far declined to comment.
