U.S. investor Sixth Street is among the firms preparing a bid for a part of the media and commercial rights to Germany's football league, the Financial Times reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The sale of a minority stake in the Bundesliga rights, which could be valued at up to 18 billion euros ($19.43 billion), comes as the German soccer league tries to close the financial gap with rivals, FT reported. 

Sixth Street and the Bundesliga did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

($1 = 0.9265 euros)

(This story has been corrected to say the total value of the business is 18 billion euros in paragraph 2)