Bloomberg are reporting that Saints are in talks to be taken over by a Chinese investment group.
Saints fans will be stunned by reports on Bloomberg.com that Saints have been in talks for several weeks with Lander Sports Development Co. of China.
The article suggests that this information is supplied with people "familiar with the situation" whatever that means, however it goes on to say that Katharina Liebherr has been in discussions with Lander Sports for several weeks with a figure of £200 million being touted as the selling price.
There has been a surge of interest from China in English football in the past year or so with West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Birmingham City being sold to Chinese investors and Hull City the subject of a bid.
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s stated desire to turn the nation into a force in the sport has spurred many Chinese companies to look to the West to invest in Sports teams.
So who are Lander ?
Up until last year the company concentrated on the sale and management of property but the President's statement made them turn their attentions to sport.
Several Lander ventures have followed, including the creation in May of a sports-insurance joint venture with Du-Bang Property & Casualty Insurance Co. and investments to promote winter sports in China, which will host the 2022 Winter Olympics, and a Premier League soccer team is likely to be next on Lander’s wish list.
Saints are seen in China as an up and coming club in China with strong foundations and a good business opportunity in that it could be obtained at far less and far easier than one of the big six clubs and it is seen as being far advanced than most outside of that elite half dozen.
How much substance this rumour has is yet to be seen, certainly Saints and Lander both declined to comment to Bloomberg who are not a Sports media outlet and less prone to gossip and rumour from agents and ex players.
Ironically Inter Milan our opponents on Thursday are now Chinese owned with Suning Holdings buying a controlling stake earlier this year.