The former Thai prime minister, who is facing corruption charges in Thailand, has tabled an £81.6m takeover bid for City, reported Manchester Evening News online.

And Premier League spokesman Dan Johnson told BBC Radio Five Live: "We have a fit and proper person test which is based on objective criteria, there is a schedule of offences which does also reflect any offences that someone has been prosecuted for overseas as well.

"It is a tricky one because he hasn't been prosecuted of anything yet, and also we are a football competition.

"We sit in a hierarchy of regulation and if the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry), the Government, say this guy is okay to come in and purchase UK companies then that is really where we've got to be starting."

Asked whether the situation would change should Shinawatra be found guilty of the charges he is facing, Johnson said: "That would be something we would have to look at."

Thaksin's wife was also named in the case, which involves allegations of wrongdoing in a land deal.