Southampton news: Saints owners in takeover negotiations with leading Chinese sports firm

Southampton could be the next English club to sell to Chinese investors after takeover talks with Swiss owner reach an advanced stage

A view from Southampton's St Mary's (Getty)

Southampton are in takeover talks with Chinese company Lander Sports Development in a deal worth an estimated £200m.

The Saints could become the fifth English club in recent years to sell to Chinese investors after midlands clubs West Bromich Albion, Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Birmingham City all succumbed to mouth-watering sums of money from the Far East.

The Chinese firm have been negotiating with Saints’ owner Katharina Liebherr for many weeks and the talks are now believed to be at an advanced stage.

Southampton have quickly become an attractive investment for foreign investors following their impressive rise from League One to Europa League football in just seven years.

The club also recorded one of the most famous results in their history last night following a 2-1 victory over Italian giants, Inter Milan; thanks to a Yuto Nagatomo own goal and a Virgil van Dijk strike.

The South Coast side also made an impressive £12m profit last year and are set to make more money this season through the Premier League’s new broadcasting contract.

Lander’s interest may have also been perked by Southampton’s academy which boasts an unnatural turnover of high quality graduates. Gareth Bale, Adam Lallana, Theo Walcott and Luke Shaw are just some of the top players to have risen through the ranks at St Mary’s.

However, the Chinese investment in English football looks set to continue elsewhere as Hong Kong-based company, GreaterChina Professional Services Ltd, have expressed their interest in purchasing fellow Premier League club, Hull City.

It is believed the sudden interest in football in China resonates from President Xi Jingping’s ambitions to develop the nation into one of the world’s top footballing nations.