LA Fitness and the owner of Total Fitness, Legal and General Ventures, have reportedly teamed up in order to bid to acquire rival health club chain Esporta from its private equity owners Duke Street Capital.

According to the The Sunday Telegraph, the two parties have submitted an offer “close to the £640m asking price”.

As previously reported in Leisure Opportunities, Esporta, which owns more than 50 clubs in the UK, launched a formal auction process in September after receiving several approaches from rival companies.

Next Generation is understood to have placed a bid, whereas Istithmar, Whitbread and the former ASDA chair Archie Norman have all pulled out.