Inter Milan are moving closer to formalising a partnership with China's Suning Commerce Group.
Representatives of the group, which owns Chinese Super League leaders Jiangsu Suning, attended Inter's win over Udinese at the San Siro last weekend.
"Both parties are exploring, in depth, the possibility of an ample partnership in a broad footballing sense and in terms of the development of football in China, and the possibility of reciprocal investment cannot be ruled out," a spokesperson for the Suning group told Il Corriere della Sera.
"Once we have finalised the content of this cooperation, it will be officialised in China."
Robert Faulkner, Inter's head of communications, told China Daily on Friday that "the discussions with Suning are probably at the most advanced stage as they came to visit us in Milan."
He said interest had also been shown in the club's youth academy and Pinetina training centre.
A rival group of Chinese businessmen are reported to be interest in a takeover of Inter's city rivals AC Milan, although Suning's interest in Inter is believed to be in a minority stake of between 20 and 30 percent.
Current Inter president Erick Thohir said earlier this year that he was seeking additional investment from China but stressed that he was not looking to sell the club outright.
Before any Chinese company can make such an investment, they must first obtain permission from the Chinese government and president Xi Jinping, who is said to be in favour of strengthening links with European football clubs in order to raise the quality of the game in China, China Daily reported.
Both AC Milan and Inter would represent good value for such investment compared to clubs in England's Premier League.