Vikings reportedly close to deal to stay in Minnesota

The Minnesota Vikings are reportedly close to signing a deal to remain in Minnesota, though a team executive denied on Monday that an agreement was "imminent."

Peter King reported on NBC's "Football Night in America" Sunday that it's no longer a question of "if" but "when" the team officially commits to staying in the state, according to ProFootballTalk.com.

"Look for the Vikings to sign a long-term deal and build a new stadium in Minnesota so that they will not be a candidate to move to Los Angeles," King said. "Everybody had been rumoring that they were going to L.A. The Vikings are going to stay in Minneapolis."

Vikings director of corporate communications Jeff Anderson disputed King's report via Twitter.

"While we continue to work hard on a stadium solution in Minnesota, there is no agreement imminent," Anderson tweeted, after writing that the team "took note of Peter King's optimism last night and today about the prospects for a new stadium."

"The lease expires after the season, we are encouraged by positive discussions and we remain hopeful a resolution will be reached in MN," Anderson added.

There has been speculation that the Vikings could move to Los Angeles if they're unable to arrange a deal for a new stadium in Minnesota.

The team would prefer to build a new stadium in suburban Ramsey County, but some state officials favor a new stadium in downtown Minneapolis.