China's Amer, CITIC line up rival bid for Southampton - source

Britain Football Soccer - Southampton v Liverpool - EFL Cup Semi Final First Leg - St Mary's Stadium - 11/1/17 General view outside the stadium before the match Action Images via Reuters / John Sibley

SEOUL/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Chinese buyers including materials giant Amer International and CITIC Securities Co Ltd are readying a rival 246 million pounds bid for English soccer club Southampton, a person 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.