Haier, China's largest white goods manufacturer, may consider joining forces with US private equity groups to bid for Maytag, the struggling US maker of the iconic Hoover brand.

Haier declined to comment on Tuesday, but China-based executives said the state-owned company was in “serious” discussions about a counter-bid for Maytag, which last month agreed to be taken private by Ripplewood Holdings in a $2.1bn deal.