SOUTHAMPTON have reportedly been put up for sale less than three years after Chinese businessman Gao Jisheng bought a majority stake.
The Times claim that more than one broker has been invited to find a buyer for the Saints at a £250million asking price.
The report added that Southampton’s profit that they made during the 2018-19 season will be “considerably less healthy” than the £28.6m the club declared last March.
Finding a buyer at his asking price would allow businessman Gao to leave English football at a sum similar to the amount previous owner Katharina Liebherr did in August 2017.
Swiss Liebherr inherited the club from late father Markus, who rescued the South Coast club from going bust in 2009.
Since Gao seized 80 per cent of Southampton’s shares, the Saints have been repeatedly flirting with relegation, finishing 17th and 16th in the last two seasons.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side are now just seven points above the drop zone this term after falling to a 1-0 home defeat to Newcastle.
The Austrian is the third manager to be employed under Gao following his takeover, succeeding Mauricio Pellegrino and Mark Hughes.
Gao’s Shenzen-listed Lander Sports Development company reported a loss in 2018, leading the 67-year-old to flog a large chunk of his stake in the business to the Chinese government.
Yet the real estate tycoon insisted last year that there were “no problems” with his financial situation.
He told the Financial Times: “I am not treating Southampton as a pig to be fattened and sold.
“I am treating it as a child. But my children must believe they cannot depend on the boss.
“I have said to Southampton: ‘I am now your father. But I am putting you on the right track — you need to feed yourself.’ ”
On the pitch, Southampton slipped to their second successive defeat in a result that was compounded by Moussa Djenepo’s red card.
The 21-year-old was sent off via pitchside VAR monitors for standing on Isaac Hayden’s ankle during the 1-0 defeat against Newcastle.
Referee Graham Scott initially booked Djenepo for the incident in the first half at St Mary’s.
But the official then received instruction from VAR official Chris Kavanagh at Stockley Park to go and check pitchside monitors.
