Premier League - Papers: Investors circle Liverpool
Eurosport - Mon, 15 Mar 09:09:00 2010
British newspapers are reporting that six or seven major investors are preparing bids for
Liverpool football club.
The Anfield giants, who have endured a poor season by their standards, are owned by US duo
Tom Hicks and George Gillett (pictured), who have made no secret about wanting to make profit from the club but whose spending on players has been restricted this season.
Star striker
Fernando Torres hinted that he may leave if they do not buy a load of new players in the summer, while skipper
Steven Gerrard has been linked with Real Madrid and
Manchester City.
Boss Rafael Benitez - who insists his hands have been tied in the transfer market - has come under increasing pressure and has also been tipped for Madrid, with Hicks and Gillett incurring the wrath of the fans as a result.
The Daily Mail claims that they
cannot even afford to sack Benitez, as he has a clause in his contract that means he gets the full value of his contract within a day of being given the boot - that would be
£16 million if he goes this summer.
Hicks and Gillett are now trying to secure at least
£100m worth of investment to stave off an enforced sale of the club.
New York private equity firm
Rhone Group are offering to buy 40 per cent of the shareholding to leave the Yanks with around 30 each (The Sun, Daily Star).
That would placate Royal Bank of
Scotland, who are owed nearly £240m, allowing them to offer the Reds a big refinancing package that lets them spend in the transfer market and keep the likes of Gerrard and
Torres.
The Daily Telegraph claims that six additional investors have contacted the club regarding similar deals, with Reds MD Christian Purslow setting an Easter deadline for bids.
Any additional investment moves would also force the hands of any potential buyers from Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi - which is probably of more interest to fans disgruntled at the club's debt.
But the Guardian thinks that the £100m bid undervalues Liverpool's overall worth and that the American duo - who aimed to make a significant fortune from their venture - will only play ball for a bid that values Liverpool at over £300m.
And if they do not secure the investment? RBS have the right to claim ownership of the club. And who owns 84 per cent of RBS? That's right - the UK Treasury.