Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks is in talks with Kuwait billionaire, Nasser Al-Kharafi over a possible takeover.

It is understood meetings have taken place in London between aides of the tycoon, who has an estimated £9bn fortune, and Hicks' representatives.

Hicks and his co-owner George Gillet are valuing the club at around £550m.

The American duo's reign has been dogged by controversy since their £218m takeover in February 2007 and it appears they are now willing to sell.

Labels: George Gillett, Nasser Al-Kharafi, ownership, tom hicks

Warring Liverpool co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks are trying to repair their fractured relationship.

The pair have been at loggerheads over a number of issues this year, leading Gillett to describe their partnership as "unworkable".

There were fears the public feud between the billionaire businessmen would create anarchy at Anfield - including affecting the spending plans of manager Rafael Benitez - but a ceasefire appears to have been called between the two factions.

In an interview with Fan590 late on Thursday night, Gillett revealed: "It's fair to say that communication between the Hicks and the Gilletts has been substantially improved and I believe that it will be for the benefit of the club.

"Time is a healer and there were things that had happened previously. It took a while for both of us to realise that we weren't communicating very well and the huge responsibility we have to the fans to do the right thing for the club.

"I believe that the Hicks family are communicating better with us and we're communicating better with them and I think that will be much better for the club."

Labels: George Gillett, ownership, tom hicks

The past few weeks' developments at Anfield have been surreal. After defeating Arsenal in thrilling fashion in the Champions League quarter-final (Gallas weighs in), Liverpool should be on a high. Rafa has again demonstrated his remarkably successful touch in Europe's top club competition (with some help). Although Chelsea may have something to say about it, the Reds are on course for a third Champions League final in four seasons - and possibly a sixth European crown.

Yet before the euphoria of their achievement on the pitch had even begun to subside, owner Tom Hicks did not so much rain on their parade as precipitate a cloudburst by calling unilaterally for chief executive Rick Parry to resign, criticizing his record on the commercial front, saying he obstructed some big-money signings and now that he was the point man on Klinsmann talks. It seems that the real issue for Dallas millionaire Hicks is the fact that Parry has sided with Gillett in the great boardroom schism. [ article ]

Labels: champions league, George Gillett, ownership, rafa, tom hicks

Fresh doubts have been raised over the future of Liverpool after co-owner George Gillett revealed relations with partner Tom Hicks are now "unworkable".

BBC Sport understands Hicks is aiming to take sole control of the club, while investment group Dubai International Capital also wants to invest.

But Gillett said: "This partnership has been unworkable for some time."

He also said his family has received "phone calls in the middle of the night threatening our lives - death threats."

However, despite the threats, Gillett revealed he and his son Foster - a club director - intend to travel to England to attend one of the upcoming games against Arsenal next week.

Speaking to radio station Fan590 in Canada, Gillett said that selling his share of the club to Hicks is now "an untenable alternative".

Labels: George Gillett, ownership, tom hicks

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has ended negotiations with Dubai International Capital over acquiring a 49% stake in the club.

DIC had earlier announced it was in advanced talks to buy a stake in the Anfield side.

But in a statement on the Liverpool website, Hicks said: "I have decided to terminate further discussions with DIC.

"I and my colleagues will continue to explore a number of other options with regard to the ownership of the club."

Talks had been taking place between DIC and Hicks about how a joint relationship would work.

George Gillett, Hicks' co-owner, is understood to have agreed in principle to sell 49% of his 50% stake to DIC, and the other 1% to Hicks to give the Texan a controlling interest.

Labels: dubai, George Gillett, ownership, tom hicks

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks is unwilling to sell his share in the club to Dubai International Capital and aims to buy out partner George Gillett.

DIC has tabled a formal £400m bid to take control from the American duo.

BBC sports editor Mihir Bose told BBC 5 Live: "Hicks has been willing to have DIC as a minority stakeholder. He's not willing to sell a controlling interest.

"Tom Hicks is working on a plan where he would buy out his partner George Gillett, who is minded to sell to DIC."

Labels: George Gillett, ownership, tom hicks

Liverpool's owners have been given a £400m take-it-or-leave-it offer from Dubai International Capital to buy the club, BBC Sport understands. How DIC is denying that there is a deadline.

Government-run Dubai investment fund DIC have been in talks with George Gillett and Tom Hicks to buy the club.

BBC 5 Live understands Gillett is willing to sell, but co-owner Hicks is not, but both have to agree to sell for any deal to go through.

Labels: dubai, George Gillett, ownership, tom hicks

Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett believe they can complete a £350m refinancing deal by Thursday to secure their immediate Anfield future.

City observers said on Wednesday the package was under threat, with Dubai International Capital (DIC) waiting in the wings for a possible takeover.

But BBC Sport has learned the pair are convinced the deal is imminent.

The package is expected to help the American duo repay money borrowed for their £218.9m takeover in March 2007.

Labels: financing, George Gillett, tom hicks

The BBC has posted an excellent article about the club's refinancing activities.

Labels: Benitez, financing, George Gillett, New Anfield, tom hicks

Under-fire Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks says he has no intention of selling his 50% stake in the club.

BBC Sport understands that Dubai International Capital (DIC) is considering making an offer to buy out Hicks and co-owner George Gillett.

But Hicks said: "I've not received any offer to purchase the club from DIC or anyone else, much less accepted any such offer.

"Nor do I have any intention of doing so," added the American.

Hicks and Gillett are currently looking to refinance the club's debt and BBC sports editor Mihir Bose said a deal to do that could be struck in the next few days.

Labels: George Gillett, ownership, tom hicks

Liverpool co-owner George Gillett has given his full support to Reds manager Rafael Benitez after clear-the-air talks with the Spaniard on Sunday.

Benitez met with Gillett and co-owner Tom Hicks hours after Sunday's 1-0 defeat by Manchester United at Anfield.

Gillett told the Liverpool Echo: "Rafa is the one we want as manager further on, and we have faith in him.

"I've been married over 40 years and have first-hand knowledge about how to solve an argument."

Labels: Benitez, coaching, George Gillett

Rafa Benitez has played down talk of his row with the club's American owners, saying his relationship with them is fine. [ Video ]

Benitez's row with Liverpool co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks has dominated the headlines in the last week, with the Spaniard upset that the Americans would not back his transfer plans.

The Spaniard is planning to talk to both men to try and resolve the matter, but he insists he has no problem with the American pair.

Labels: Benitez, George Gillett, rick parry, tom hicks, transfers

Liverpool have released the design for their new 60,000 all-seater stadium.

The ground, which is scheduled to open in 2010, is part of a £300m investment by the club and has the ability to increase capacity to more than 75,000.

Comprehensive Coverage from Club Site.

The architect is American company HKS, which is also designing the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium.

Chief executive Rick Parry told the BBC: 'The stadium will send a message out that we want to be best on the pitch and the best off the pitch.'

More details -- about an 18,000 seat Kop.

American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, in conjunction with architects HKS, have radically redesigned the original plans for the stadium.

Labels: George Gillett, New Anfield, tom hicks

[from LFC.tv] George Gillett basked in the euphoria of watching Liverpool book their place in the Champions League final and then paid a glowing tribute to manager Rafael Benitez.

Gillett watched proudly from the Director's Box last night as Benitez led the Reds to the seventh European Cup final in the club's history.

A date in Athens now beckons on May 23 when Liverpool will take on AC Milan ... for the biggest prize in European football.

"Rafa has been tremendous. My sons and I followed the sport here before we came; we knew about Rafa Benitez and what he had done in Europe," said Gillett.

"We knew of him but I don't think we realised how good he was, and not just as a coach.

"Not only was he a brilliant coach but he is a very sharp, savvy businessman. He knows what he wants and how to get it.

"The more we have seen of him the more impressed we have become. We have talked money but that is not the main point. We have discovered that the way people operate privately is not always the same as in public.

Rafa has been tremendous. My sons and I followed the sport here before we came; we knew about Rafa Benitez and what he had done in Europe.

We knew of him but I don't think we realised how good he was, and not just as a coach.

"We will be supporting him during the summer but it is not about money, it is about giving people opportunities."

Labels: champions league, George Gillett

New Liverpool co-owner George Gillett will not discuss the size of the club's summer transfer kitty but has promised to back manager Rafael Benitez.

Newspaper reports have suggested Benitez will be given £40m to spend but Gillett would not comment on the figure. Speculation is that a a number of targets are being considered.

Labels: Benitez, George Gillett