Reports: Verizon Could Be Lead Bidder To Acquire Yahoo's Assets

After what seems like years of talks, negotiations and speculation, Yahoo! Inc. YHOO could be days away from announcing the completion of its asset sale to Verizon Communications Inc. VZ.

CNBC, citing sources, reported on Friday Verizon is the lead bidder to acquire Yahoo's core internet properties and a deal could be announced as soon as next week.

CNBC's sources said Yahoo's advisers overseeing the deal are now exclusively talking with Verizon and a deal could also include real estate assets, however, would not Yahoo's intellectual property portfolio.

Bloomberg, citing "people familiar with the matter," similarly reported Verizon is "nearing" a deal to acquire Yahoo's assets. Verizon could pay close to $5 billion for Yahoo's internet properties, but the deal won't include the company's patents.

"The buyer that could make the most out of these assets has apparently won," Roger Entner, an analyst with Recon Analytics told Bloomberg. "No one could get more out of Yahoo's businesses than Verizon. "

Shares of Yahoo were trading higher by nearly 1 percent.