Liverpool In Takeover Talks With Kuwaiti Billionaire - Report
The Reds' much-maligned American owners could sell up amid new interest from the Middle East...
Jan 23, 2009 1:10:38 AM
According to The Sun, Liverpool are currently in discussions with Kuwaiti tycoon Nasser Al-Kharafi regarding a potential mega-money takeover.
The British tabloid claims that the Reds have sent over a delegation to kick off talks which could see the club's current co-owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, sell their stakes for £400 million.
Although things have settled down in recent times, the American business-partners' reign at Anfield has been swamped with controversy after controversy.
The Kopites are still furious that Hicks and Gillett broke their promise not to pile debt upon the club, not to mention their inability to drum up the funds for a new stadium at Stanley Park.
Furthermore, the pair's relationship with manager Rafael Benitez has always been terse at best, and their constant disputes over transfer dealings have caused considerable unrest within the club.
Thus, a change in ownership would suit all parties concerned: the Hicks and Gillett would cash in and move out, much to most fans' delight, while Benitez should get the cash cow he always wanted.
For Al-Kharafi's fortune is much vaster than the current owners', weighing in at around £12 billion, and he is ranked as the 46th richest man in the world.
Al-Kharafi was linked with a takeover at Newcastle United last October, and his cousin held buy-out talks with Hicks earlier in the year.
Mike Maguire, Goal.com
- Liverpool Comment: Victory Over Manchester City Can Restore Order To The Premier League Table
- Goal.com World Player Of The Week: Obafemi Martins
- Manchester United Comment: One More Year For Paul Scholes, But No More 'Big Four' Battles
- Liverpool Special: Striker Hunt Throws Up Some Interesting Names, But Will Money Talk?
- Exclusive: Being A Liverpool 'Supersub' Is Hard - Ryan Babel
- Liverpool Comment: Glen Johnson Already Looks Like A Feather In Rafa Benitez's Cap
- Liverpool Insight: Reserves Flourish As First Team Flounders
- Graham Poll: Liverpool Forward David Ngog Is A 'Disgrace'
- Arsenal Analysis: Goal Glut Hides Contribution Of Players Like Bacary Sagna
- Liverpool Comment: Perspective Is The Key As Rafa Benitez Looks For Answers Again
- Top 10 Most Controversial World Cup Games
- Egypt Issue FIFA Complaint Against Algeria, Threaten International Withdrawl
- Fabio Cannavaro: Thierry Henry Should Have Had The Decency Not To Celebrate
- FAI Chief John Delaney Demands Ireland's Match With France Be Replayed
- France Captain Thierry Henry: I Handled The Ball Against Ireland, But It Was A ‘Great Moment’
Watch
