Amer, CITIC line up rival bids for club

Chinese buyers including materials giant Amer International and CITIC Securities Co Ltd are readying a rival 246-million-pound ($305 million) bid for English soccer club Southampton, a source with knowledge of the plans told Reuters.

The bid for the English Premier League side marks a potential challenge to an earlier planned acquisition by Lander Sports Development, which said in January that it was taking a stake in the club.

Southampton takes on Manchester United in the final of the League Cup on Sunday, after having beaten Liverpool at Anfield last month in the semifinals. The Saints last played a major final at Wembley Stadium in 1979.