Media mogul Rupert Murdoch indicated in a tweet Friday that Los Angeles philanthropist Eli Broad along with “a local group” appears likely to get the Los Angeles Times, adding to long-swirling rumors that a local entity would take the newspaper from Chicago owner Tribune Publishing.

Broad did not directly deny the claim. He said through a spokeswoman that he declined to comment.

Murdoch posted Friday morning: “Strong word Tribune newspaper group to be bought by big Wall St firm, LA Times to go to philanthropist Eli Broad and local group.”

The fate of the Los Angeles Times has been under speculation since owner Tribune Publishing fired publisher Austin Beutner in September, about a year after he had taken the helm with ambitious plans to enhance the paper’s business model.

Tribune Publishing, based in Chicago, told the Business Journal in October that it was not interested in selling the paper.

Tribune did not return a request for comment Friday.