MELBOURNE Knights have been approached by a Chinese consortium about a joint-venture A-League license.

The Knights are keeping the identity of the potential Chinese investor under wraps, but is understood to be a property developer with a small stake in several European clubs and a bigger share in a Chinese club.

It’s understood that talks about a $25m venture in Australia are ongoing, with the secret Chinese consortium eager to tap into local knowledge but secure a majority share.

The Knights have agreed, in-principle, to commit $8.5m to the project.

The two-time National Soccer League champions retain a big profile like a number of former top flight clubs, having produced international stars such as Mark Viduka, Josip Simunic, Joey Didulica and Danny Tiatto.

media_camera Melbourne Knights player Stipo Andrijasevic in action against Green Gully.

Under the proposal, the Knights would continue playing in the local National Premier Leagues (state league top tier), acting as a feeder club for the A-League franchise and possibly a Chinese club.

Knights vice-president Simun Samardzic confirmed that formal talks were taking place but refused to divulge the identity of the Chinese businessman.

“We as a club are looking to the future and the interest from China is very serious,’’ Samardzic said.

“At this stage we are not in a position to reveal the identity of the Chinese businessman, but he’s passionate about football and has followed the Newcastle Jets sale very closely.

“We realise that we are little hope of joining the A-League ourselves, but we remain a club that’s internationally renowned because of our success and proud history having produced the likes of Viduka, Simunic, Tiatto and Frank Juric, who played all over the world.’’

media_camera Mark Viduka in action for the Knights in 1995.

The Knights are back in the spotlight tomorrow night when they host WA side Cockburn City at Knights Stadium in the FFA Cup Round of 32.

Expansion and promotion/relegation has become a hot topic since the advent of the FFA Cup, with former NSL clubs and new consortiums eager to join the A-League.

Football Federation Australia has no immediate plans to expand but foreign investors, former NSL clubs and new consortiums are pushing for the 10-team national competition to grow.

Talks with the Chinese investor have thrown up the possibility of redeveloping the current facility in Sunshine, which is owned by the club, into a mega complex with synthetic pitches or building a new base.

Newcastle Jets were recently bought by Chinese millionaire Martin Lee for a fee in the vicinity of $5m.

Lee, who is the chairman of a hi-tech LED signage manufacturer the Ledman Group, has targeted Asian Champions League qualification within three years for the Jets.