A Chinese bank are ready to make a £225million offer for Southampton after a proposed take- over from a rival Far East firm collapsed.
Sportsmail can reveal that CITIC Securities — China’s largest investment bank — have drafted the terms of a takeover bid and are set to make a formal approach once the club’s period of exclusivity with Lander Sports Development expires at the end of this month.
Lander disclosed to the Shenzhen stock exchange on January 26 that they had agreed a deal in principle to purchase a stake in the Saints, and Swiss owner Katharina Liebherr subsequently reassured fans that any agreement would be ‘in the best interests of the club’.