Former Arsenal and FA power-broker David Dein has been linked with a behind-the-scenes involvement in Dubai International Capital's renewed attempts to buy Liverpool from beleaguered American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
The claims coming out of Dubai follow Dein stopping off in the United Arab Emirates capital for talks on his way back from a Christmas holiday in the Maldives.
In all likelihood he faces the longest of waits to return to the Arsenal boardroom, where a hostile set of directors have a lockdown agreement not to sell shares.
Dein, who was an Arsenal director when they agreed their massive stadium sponsorship deal with Emirates, has plenty of contacts in the UAE, including DIC personnel.
But Dein, chairman of Russian tycoon Alisher Usmanov's Red & White holdings vehicle who are looking to increase their 23 per cent stake in Arsenal, has pledged his lifelong support to the Gunners.
Since his acrimonious split with the board last April, he has turned down all offers to work for other clubs, including Barcelona, so any talks with DIC connections would only be on an advisory basis.
Meanwhile, mystery surrounds the future of Foster Gillett, the son of Liverpool co-owner George, who was employed to provide a direct link between boss Rafa Benitez and the owners.
Foster has not been seen around Anfield for a fortnight, with suggestions from inside the club that he 'hasn't cut the mustard' and 'was enjoying himself too much'. However, the club insisted yesterday that Foster and wife Lauren had already bought a house in Liverpool and were purely in the United States on a short break.
The claims coming out of Dubai follow Dein stopping off in the United Arab Emirates capital for talks on his way back from a Christmas holiday in the Maldives.
In all likelihood he faces the longest of waits to return to the Arsenal boardroom, where a hostile set of directors have a lockdown agreement not to sell shares.
Dein, who was an Arsenal director when they agreed their massive stadium sponsorship deal with Emirates, has plenty of contacts in the UAE, including DIC personnel.
But Dein, chairman of Russian tycoon Alisher Usmanov's Red & White holdings vehicle who are looking to increase their 23 per cent stake in Arsenal, has pledged his lifelong support to the Gunners.
Since his acrimonious split with the board last April, he has turned down all offers to work for other clubs, including Barcelona, so any talks with DIC connections would only be on an advisory basis.
Meanwhile, mystery surrounds the future of Foster Gillett, the son of Liverpool co-owner George, who was employed to provide a direct link between boss Rafa Benitez and the owners.
Foster has not been seen around Anfield for a fortnight, with suggestions from inside the club that he 'hasn't cut the mustard' and 'was enjoying himself too much'. However, the club insisted yesterday that Foster and wife Lauren had already bought a house in Liverpool and were purely in the United States on a short break.
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