Amer International and CITIC Securities, a Chinese firm, is about to make a $300 million bid to buy English club Southampton, Reuters was told. It would rival an earlier acquisition bid by anotherChinese firm, Lander Sports Development.
If a deal goes through, Southampton will join fellow English clubs Manchester City, West Bromwich Albion and second-tier Aston Villa, BirminghamCity and Wolves in having Chinese investment.
Southampton has been a model of success since being saved by the late Swiss billionaire Markus Liebherr in 2009. Liebherr’s daughter,Katharina, is the current owner.