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Hidden amongst another day of car-crash news for Aston Villa there was a rumour doing the rounds on forums about a new Chinese owner.

Steve Hollis admits that the club are actively in talks for Randy Lerner to sell the club - some internet sites even went as far as naming the man looking to buy the club.

Last year there was reportedly a firm interest from a Chinese consortium who sent representatives to England and did due diligence only for a deal to complete the club failing to materialise.

The speculation now is that the consortium will be even more interested in the club, at an obviously reduced price.

MORE:Aston Villa news LIVE | Gabby Agbonlahor and much more

Below: Business Editor Graeme Brown explains why Villa fans might not see a quick sale

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Fans on forums have suggested that the man behind the consortium is Wang Jianlin, not a name that is familiar with everyone.

Is the interest anything more than wild fanciful forum talk? It remains to be seen.

Who is he? Good question, one thing is for sure, he could afford Aston Villa.

In 2014 he was named by Forbes as the 26th richest man in the world with a net worth of $25 billion.

This year he was named as the richest man in Asia with a net worth of $28.7 billion

4 months ago he bought a house for £80m in Kensington, London

He has previously donated $197 million to charitable causes. He helped the restoration of an ancient temple in Nanjing.

He also paid $200,00 for the restoration of the Electric Fountain in Beverley Hills.

Could his love of restoring once great relics be his sole purpose for wanting to buy Villa?

He is a former regimental commander of the People's Liberation Army with 17-years service. Handling Gabby Agbonlahor and Joleon Lescott would be a breeze.

He was linked with buying a substantial stake in Atletico Madrid last year.

Below: Mat Kendrick reacts to the latest Villa fiasco

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He is CEO, chairman and founder of the Dalian Wanda Group.

His business is described online as "21.57 million square metres of investment property, 134 Wanda Shopping Plazas, 82 luxury hotels, 213 cinemas, 99 department stores, and 54 karaoke centres around China. The company became the world's largest theatre owner in 2012 when it acquired AMC Theaters . He bought out U.S.-based AMC Entertainment for $2.6 billion."

He is clearly used to a bit of drama, again, that would serve him well.

He is also described by the The Economic as "a man of Napoleonic ambition, who enforces "iron discipline" in the workplace, where employees are fined when they violate the company's conservative dress code."

Yep, he would definitely whip Villa into shape.

Wild rumours? For now at least, yes.