Hong Kong man eyes Birmingham City

By Elena Moya

LONDON (Reuters) - A Hong Kong man named Carson Yeung is mulling a bid for Premier League club Birmingham City, although no deal is imminent, a source close to the situation said on Friday.

A takeover of Birmingham City would be the latest in a string of acquisitions of English football clubs by international investors who are attracted to the league's booming television and commercial revenue.

Bolton, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton are also in investors' crosshairs, sources close to the situation say.

Yeung is routinely referred to in media reports as a billionaire or a businessman. Hong Kong's Ming Pao newspaper said he was part owner of a Macau casino.

An offer for Birmingham City by Yeung could reach as much as $98.5 million (49 million pounds), Ming Pao reported earlier this week, which added it was his third attempt to buy an English club.

Birmingham City's market capitalisation is 37.5 million pounds.

A spokesman for the club declined to comment.

An offer from Yeung could rival interest from Indian-born billionaire and steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, who also has been linked to the club in press reports.