Dubai International to make bid for Liverpool FC

[sonsofthedesert]

No other club's fans could have done this so quick. The fans can be proud, first we kept Rafa in a job and now this. I am serious.

Well done all.. lets see how it pans out. Night.

What makes you so sure it will go through? Is it just what Bascombe has said to you or something else?

[Dhav]

No other club's fans could have done this so quick. The fans can be proud, first we kept Rafa in a job and now this. I am serious.

Well done all.. lets see how it pans out. Night.

It's not over yet, in spite of what Bascombe is saying. We need to mobilise. We need to keep it going. We need to keep this up. In fact we need to step it up a gear. They need to be made aware in no uncertain terms that they are not welcome at our club and never will be, and it is in their best interests to sell up and **** off.

[sonsofthedesert]

Telegraph:

£500m takeover rumours rife in Liverpool
By Jim Bruce-Ball and Derick Allsop
Last Updated: 12:12am GMT 20/01/2008


Liverpool's American owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, were fending off renewed speculation last night that they are on the verge of selling the club.

Dubai International Capital, the investment arm of the Dubai government, are understood to be launching a £500m bid to buy the Anfield club.


Rumour-mill: is Tom Hicks on the verge of an Anfield exit?
It had been suggested during the week that DIC - headed by Liverpool fan Sameer Al Ansari - were prepared to make an offer for Hicks' 50 per cent share, but now it seems that they are willing to buy out both of them.

Hicks and Gillett beat DIC to buying the club this time last year but their reign has been a turbulent one, reaching its nadir last week when Hicks admitted that they had sounded out Jurgen Klinsmann to replace Rafa Benitez as manager.

The club refused to comment on the speculation last night but, with a fans' protest planned against the owners for Liverpool's Premier League match against Aston Villa at Anfield tomorrow night, it may be that the pair feel the time is right to sell up.

Gillett and Hicks have been attempting to finalise terms on a £350m loan that would enable them to repay, by next month's deadline, money which they borrowed for last year's £219m takeover, repay loans used to sign players and allow them to start work on a re-scaled plan for a new stadium in Stanley Park. But DIC, who rejected spending £150m for a 15 per cent stake in the club last October, may be offering the pair a get-out clause they cannot resist.


Benitez, meanwhile, insisted last night that he would not be leaving the club and suggested that he may outlast the Americans at Anfield.

He said: "I know you must ask [about my position at the club], but I will not say anything. But I have a lot of confidence that I will be sitting in this chair in a year's time.

"I have two and a half years of my contract left and I will try to do my best.

"A lot of the players have asked me what's going on. Keep going is the answer. I tell them the most important thing here is the club. We must do our best for the club and the fans. The commitment of the players is 100 per cent. They know they must keep going and do their job. That's my message."

Benitez believes the Liverpool production line will ensure a supply of fresh talent in the years to come and enable the club to reclaim the prize the supporters crave above all others, the Premier League title.

"In the Champions League we are much better than anyone else in England," he said. "If you analyse the last three years, we are the best English team in Europe."

Telegraph

[Craig_H]

I'm not playing any 'insider' card nonsense here, just stating an opinion...but i cant see how it could be played this much in the media, without it going ahead.

[kurtangle01]

I'm not playing any 'insider' card nonsense here, just stating an opinion...but i cant see how it could be played this much in the media, without it going ahead.

Syd, I'm praying that your theory proves correct, mate.

[thekop]

They need to be made aware in no uncertain terms that they are not welcome at our club and never will be, and it is in their best interests to sell up and **** off.

[StevieJ]

But I have a lot of confidence that I will be sitting in this chair in a year's time.

This suggests to me that Rafa has had some kind of confirmation that the deal will proceed - that along with the noticeable change in his demeanour the last few days.

Won't fully believe it until I see the press conference though.

[Craig_H]

Syd, I'm praying that your theory proves correct, mate.

Just think there's too much weight behind it now and there's an immense amount of determination from the Dubai people. They're the sort of folk who strike you as generally getting what they want.

[paulcooper4]

I'm not playing any 'insider' card nonsense here, just stating an opinion...but i cant see how it could be played this much in the media, without it going ahead.

Ive been thinking the same mate

[Craig_H]

But I have a lot of confidence that I will be sitting in this chair in a year's time.

This suggests to me that Rafa has had some kind of confirmation that the deal will proceed - that along with the noticeable change in his demeanour the last few days.

Won't fully believe it until I see the press conference though.

People have spoken about this apparent change of demeanour in rafa, but i cant say i've seen anything that significantly different...certainly nothing that couldnt be explained by the fact that the dust has settled, with regards to his job security.

[Dhav]

I'm not playing any 'insider' card nonsense here, just stating an opinion...but i cant see how it could be played this much in the media, without it going ahead.

Like Kurt, I'm praying you're right mate.

DIC sense that there's a rift between Gillett and Hicks and they're going in for the kill. let's hope it results in the two yankee cunts falling prey to them.

[wavydavy]

I'm not playing any 'insider' card nonsense here, just stating an opinion...but i cant see how it could be played this much in the media, without it going ahead.

I agree.

[Craig_H]

Ive been thinking the same mate

Yeah, i mean we could be wrong of course, but i couldnt imagine the Dubai people allowing so much of the saga to go public, only to be left red-faced again. Seems like they've either got something already tied up, or they're extremely confident of getting what they want...and with good reason.

[Jan-Erik]

But I have a lot of confidence that I will be sitting in this chair in a year's time.

This suggests to me that Rafa has had some kind of confirmation that the deal will proceed - that along with the noticeable change in his demeanour the last few days.

Won't fully believe it until I see the press conference though.

Or that G&H have told him his job is safe.

[Dhav]

People have spoken about this apparent change of demeanour in rafa, but i cant say i've seen anything that significantly different...certainly nothing that couldnt be explained by the fact that the dust has settled, with regards to his job security.

But I dont think the dust has settled in that regard mate. The yanks still want him out, I'm sure of that. I'm sure Rafa feels that his best chance of staying on next year is with the yanks gone, or possibly the yanks not being able to afford the pay-off for sacking him.