Liverpool's topsy-turvey summer
took a twist after a rival consortium to Chinese entrepreneur
Kenny Huang are claiming they are close to sealing a deal to buy
the club.
Syrian businessman Yahya Kirdi, who represents a group of
investors from the Middle East and Canada, has said a price has
been agreed and a formal purchase agreement 'is in the final stage
of negotiation'.
However, much the same noises were made by Kirdi's
representatives in April and no deal was done, and he has been
dealing with the American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett
rather through Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton, who has been
detailed to sell the club.
Under new rules on club ownership announced by the Premier
League yesterday, all prospective owners are obliged to give the
league 10 days' notice of a takeover and prove they have the funds
to sustain the club.
Liverpool and a number of parties contemplating a takeover -
including Huang - have already contacted the Premier League to
alert them that a change of ownership could be imminent.
A statement from Kirdi said: 'The group is in advanced
negotiations with Thomas Hicks and George Gillett, co-owners of
Liverpool Football Club, to purchase 100% of the club.
Boost: Liverpool's Fernando Torres committed his
future to the Anfield cause
'Agreement has been reached on all major terms including
the purchase price, repayment of the existing bank debt from RBS
and Wells Fargo and financing of a new stadium in Liverpool's
Stanley Park. A formal purchase agreement between the parties is in
the final stage of negotiation.'
Kirdi is a resident of Canada and a former Syria international
who oversees investments in Europe and North America on behalf of
his investor group, said the statement.
'Liverpool is a massive football club with passionate and proud
fans in Merseyside and in every part of the world,' said Kirdi.
Unpopular: The American ownership of Gillett (left)
and Hicks has long lost the support of the Anfield
faithful
'With additional money to improve the squad and
financing in place to build the new stadium, LFC will be on a solid
foundation to compete in the Premiership and in Europe for years to
come.'
Star man Fernando Torres yesterday offered some hope to the
Anfield faithful by committing his future to the club.
Keith Harris, head of investment bank Seymour Pierce, told Sky
Sports News there are still other interested parties looking at the
club.
History: Liverpool finished a lowly seventh in the
Premier League last season and are laden with debt
'All I am prepared to say is we've looked at it very
carefully on behalf of would-be buyers, who we know are very
serious, we know are cash-rich, we know have the right incentive to
do it, the right motivation to do it, and are prepared to take a
long-term view,' Harris said.
'I can't say any more at the moment. We have represented a buyer
in the past and that is an ongoing situation.'
