ST. PAUL, Minn. - Red McCombs' sojourn in Minnesota may be coming to an end.

The Minnesota Vikings owner is considering purchase offers from two local ownership groups, two informed sources said late Friday, and a sale could be completed as early as this month.

The bidding parties are believed to be Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor and some Minnesota Wild investors led by team chairman Robert Naegele Jr.

Should the two parties join their bid, as speculated by one person close to the negotiations, the sale of the Vikings to the combined group would tie together three of Minnesota's four major-league teams - the Vikings, the Timberwolves and the Wild - yielding marketing and ticket sales savings.

In a statement issued Friday night, McCombs discounted the sale talk. "There is no truth to any of the stories that are circulating," he said. There are no discussions taking place regarding the sale of the team."