UPDATE 3-Three Chinese groups eye Fortescue stake - report

(Adds additional Fortescue comment in paragraphs 5,14, updates shares to close)

By James Regan

SYDNEY, May 12 (Reuters) - Chinese state-owned steel firms reportedly want to buy a stake in Australian iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (FMG.AX: Quote, Profile, Research), the latest overture by Beijing to wield more control over raw material supplies from the Australian outback.

However, two of the three Chinese firms named as potential buyers by The Australian newspaper on Monday said they were unaware of any plans to buy Fortescue shares.

The newspaper reported that Sinosteel, Chinalco and Baosteel (600019.SS: Quote, Profile, Research) were looking at a 16 percent stake in Fortescue that U.S. boutique fund Harbinger Capital Partners was considering selling.

The stake is worth around $3.9 bilion, based on Fortescue's latest stock price.

"We're not denying it," Fortescue spokesman Paul Downie said. "We're not sure if Harbinger is a seller or not."

A statement issued later by Downie said there had been no indication Harbinger was seeking to sell its Fortescue stock.

Harbinger and Sinosteel could not be immediately reached for comment. Officials of Baosteel and Chinalco in Shanghai said they knew of no strategy to take a stake in Fortescue.