Fosun Tourism Group is in advanced negotiations to sell Thomas Cook to a European travel company, according to a news report.

Sky News says Thomas Cook’s Chinese owner is close to selling the brand to a Polish private equity-backed online travel agent called eSky.

The report says: “Sky News has learnt that Fosun Tourism Group is in advanced negotiations to sell Thomas Cook to eSky, which is majority-owned by MCI Capital, a private equity firm focused on Central and Eastern Europe.

“City sources said the talks had been under way for some time, and could result in a deal in the coming weeks, although they cautioned that the discussions could yet fall apart.”

Fosun acquired the Thomas Cook brand for £11 million after it collapsed as a tour operation in September 2019 and relaunched it as an online travel agent.

Sky News reported in November 2022 that Fosun was looking to offload a substantial stake in Thomas Cook.

Then, as now, Thomas Cook declined to comment.