Southampton have denied that a company owned by the Chinese state bought a stake in the club, according to Sky Sports.
Reports from the Financial Times had suggested, through publishing documents, that a Chinese state-owned company had bought a 23.95 per cent stake in Lander Sports, part-owned by Southampton’s majority shareholder Gao Jisheng.
However, the club revealed to Sky Sports that China-based Lander Sports company was not used last Summer to buy 80% of the club.
UK-based company Lander Sports (UK) International Investment Co Limited was used by owner Gao Jisheng to buy the club, the club insist.
A spokesman for the club also revealed that the UK company lists the Southampton owner as its sole shareholder and has not links to the Chinese-state owned company.
The Premier League has strict rules regarding the ownership of clubs, and any links to the Chinese-state owning part of Southampton would have to be investigated.
