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Reuters
Reuters
Business

Lander owner cleared for Southampton takeover

Britain Football Soccer - Southampton v Stoke City - Premier League - St Mary's Stadium - 21/5/17General view of the score board before the match Action Images via Reuters / Tony O'Brien

LONDON (Reuters) - The Premier League has given Lander Sports owner Gao Jisheng clearance to take over Southampton's holding company, the Chinese stadium builder said on Friday.

"The company’s owner Mr Gao Jisheng has confirmed that he has obtained a verbal approval from the English Premier League to acquire an 80 percent stake in St Mary’s Football Group Ltd," Lander said in a statement to the Shenzhen stock exchange.

It added that Gao had yet to receive approval documents.

British media reports have indicated the takeover would cost 190 million pounds.

Lander announced in April it was terminating plans to buy a stake in Southampton after earlier striking a deal with Saints' owner Katharina Liebherr. It said on Friday that it was not directly involved in the takeover.

Southampton ended last season eighth overall.

(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

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