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China's richest man is ready to add to the boardroom intrigue at Southampton with a takeover bid.

The move could see Nicola Cortese returning to his role as the club’s executive chairman.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino was demanding talks with ­Southampton owner Katharina Liebherr last night – as the dust settles on Cortese’s departure on Wednesday night.

But Pochettino is believed to be aware of interest from Chinese billionaire Wang Jianlin, boss of the Dalian Wanda group, who could make the Saints the richest club in the Premier League.

Wang’s property development company is worth £19billion and his own personal fortune around half that figure. Now, Wang, 59, wants to break into English ­football to add to the company’s incredible portfolio and is believed to be lining up a £175million bid for Saints that current owner and chairwoman Liebherr is ready to accept.

Negotiations are thought to have already begun and, if the deal goes ahead, it could make Saints arguably the richest club in England – and almost certainly herald the return of Cortese,

Pochettino, a close friend and neighbour of Cortese, has pledged his future to the club, aware of the ­potential takeover and the fact that Cortese would be prepared to oversee the day-to-day running at St Mary’s for Dalian Wanda.

(Image: Getty Images)

Liebherr has promised no top Saints players will be sold in the January transfer window, knowing it will not devalue her asking price for the club that her father Markus bought in 2009 for around £15million, a year before his death.

Pochettino saw his Saints side roar into an early two-goal lead at Sunderland yesterday, with goals from Jay Rodriguez and Diego Lovren, only for Adam Johnson to score one and make one to secure a 2-2 draw.

But suggestions of dressing-room turmoil after Cortese’s departure were put to rest by a fine first-half performance.

And now Argentine coach Pochettino is wondering whether the Saints could end up joining the big league – thanks to Wang’s interest in the St Mary’s club.

After the Sunderland game, Pochettino said he needed a full conversation with his new chairwoman over transfer policy.

He explained: “It is clear we need to analyse many things and we will see what happens in the transfer window.”

Asked whether Liebherr wants to continue Cortese’s long-term vision for the club, Pochettino replied: “It is clear that question should be directed towards the chairwoman and it is also clear that we want to continue on the path we have been on.”

He added: “I am very happy with today’s performance, the team showed they are great pros with a great attitude. And the supporters should be proud of them because they performed well in light of what has happened.”

(Image: ©The Digital South Ltd)

Those Saints players may have to brace themselves for more shocks, though, if Wang’s interest comes to fruition.

His Dalian Wanda empire already has a foothold on the south coast, after acquiring Poole-based luxury yacht-makers Sunseeker International for £320million only last year.

The company are also ­planning to build a new five-star hotel by the River Thames in Vauxhall, South London.

Other assets include real estate, cinemas and ­department stores. And, since 2011, Dalian Wanda has been the name sponsor of the Chinese Super League ­football league.

Who is Wang Jianlin?

Wang Jianlin was born 1954 and is a Chinese billionaire.

He is the chairman of the Dalian Wanda Group, one of China’s largest real estate developers, and also the world’s largest operator of movie theatres after the purchase of AMC Entertainment Holdings for US$ 2.6billion in 2013.

Forbes magazine ranked him the 128th richest person in the world with US$8.6billion in 2013. In August 2013, he was listed by Bloomberg as the wealthiest person in China.