DIC latest - the largely wild speculation thread

[Pablo]

The Torygraph is suggesting Hicks is holding out for nearer 500 million

**** it, get your hands in your pockets lads, if we can scrounge together a measly £100m we can run this ****er out of town by sunset.

[Skillz]

I think if they went to £450m, it'd seriously tempt Hicks.

I imagine Gillett would take £200m and Hicks £250m.

No offense DJ but how the **** would you know

[carlton]

That's what i was saying before. If DIC went to £450m, i think he'd crack.

DIC confirm Liverpool takeover talks
By Richard Morgan
Last Updated: 10:16am GMT 04/03/2008

Have your say Read comments

Dubai International Capital chief executive Sameer Al Ansari has admitted that investment talks have been ongoing with Liverpool's American owners about a takeover at Anfield.

The battle for fourth place | Liverpool homepage
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Al Ansari, a lifelong Liverpool supporter, said that takeover plans were being held up by the valuation of the club by one of either Tom Hicks or George Gillett, who bought the club in February last year.



All smiles: Staveley could become a senior figure in the running of Liverpool should DIC take them over
DIC, the investment arm of the Dubai Government, are reported to have made a £400 million bid for the club last Wednesday, an offer which has not been rejected outright.

However, it is thought that Hicks and Gillett want to maximise their return from the sale of the club and could be holding out for a deal nearer the £500m mark.

"It's no secret that we have been in discussions with the current owners," Al Ansari said.

"It's not easy because the owners are in dreamland about valuations at the moment."

Hicks has been trying to buy out co-owner George Gillett in recent weeks but has had trouble securing the necessary funds.

He was originally meant to be the silent partner in the takeover 13 months ago, but is ready to exercise his right to have first refusal on Gillett's 50 per cent stake in the club.

He is said to have secured an off-market placement of his shares in Hicks Sports Group, which includes his two American sports franchises, the Texas Rangers baseball team and the Dallas Stars ice hockey team, as well as his stake in Liverpool FC.

Meanwhile DIC are said to be confident that Gillett would be willing to accept an offer of £200m for his 50 per cent stake in the club, maybe even by the end of the week, after becoming disillusioned by his brief time on Merseyside. This would represent a £25m profit on his original investment.

Al-Ansari added that one of the club's owners "had come out of dreamland", without giving further details, but in all probability referring to Gillett.

DIC remain doubtful though as to whether Hicks has the finances to buy out his partner, especially as the billionaire has frequently been encouraging them to negotiate with him in recent weeks over the sale of the club.

Last week's offer from DIC was made by Amanda Staveley, a senior partner at PCP Capital patners, and if accepted it is believed that the 34-year-old businesswoman, acting as an adviser to DIC, would take up a prominent role in the Anfield boardroom.

But Gillett remains the key individual in all negotiations and the mutual dislike that has grown between him and Hicks in recent months could mean that Gillett would be unwilling to sell his share in the club to his co-owner.

Gillett was the prime mover behind the disastrous attempt last November to recruit former Germany manger Jurgen Klinsmann to replace the Spaniard, a move that exaccerbated the feeling of crisis surrounding the club.

Sources at Anfield have stated, however, that "no one knows what Hicks will do if he gets his hands on the entire club", a scenario that does not sit easily with the former chairman David Moores and the current chief executive Rick Parry, who both privately now admitt their mistake in selling to the Americans ahead of DIC last February.

Al Ansari believed he had won the battle to own the club this time last year, before Moores and Parry had a late change of heart, favouring the American duo's last-gasp bid.

"It took me two weeks to get over that," said Al Ansari. "But it didn't dent my passion - I still go to every match when I'm here."

In the event of DIC taking control at Anfield, it is believed that al-Ansari would conduct a wide-ranging review of all aspects of the club, with both Benitez's and Parry's positions considered to be under greatest threat.

Sources close to DIC also state that Al Ansari would recruit "the best football brains in the country" to work alongside whoever the club's manager would be.

Meanwhile, sources at Liverpool talk of "chaos" and a situation where "no one knows who is running the club", something Hicks seems determined to clarify in the coming weeks.

Have your say

[Guest]

That's what i was saying before. If DIC went to £450m, i think he'd crack.

Giving them a £50m profit on their purchase in just over a year ? Hmmm

[bobbyfallon]

Where's Redheart?

redlady s inside info is funnier

works at melwod etc...

starts crying when pushed on info, comedy gold

[Reece]

**** it, get your hands in your pockets lads, if we can scrounge together a measly £100m we can run this ****er out of town by sunset.

Surely it would be cheaper just to hire at hitman?

[Shaggy]

Where's Redheart?

It’ll be water off a duck’s back to him. He makes himself look a prize cunt on a regular basis. This is nothing new.

Still funny, though. I see he suffered some premature ejaculation earlier in the thread (last day or so) by saying “I was right again”.

Such a loser. Who’d pretend to be a professor on an internet forum? The bloke can’t even spell.

[Pablo]

In all seriousness if there is £100m between the two sides valuations is there really a hope in hell of a deal?

As much as I want it I just cant see it.

[DeanoUK]

Sky Sports News NOW:
SKY SPORTS UDNERSTANDS DIC HAVE MADE A £400M BID FOR LIVERPOOL
Old news, but another confirmed story.

[Reece]

It’ll be water off a duck’s back to him. He makes himself look a prize cunt on a regular basis. This is nothing new.

Still funny, though. I see he suffered some premature ejaculation earlier in the thread (last day or so) by saying “I was right again”.

Such a loser. Who’d pretend to be a professor on an internet forum? The bloke can’t even spell.

Thing is he actually is a (sort of) professor (well, lecturer). I've seen a picture of him One day when he reaches new heights of cuntishness it will get posted

[Craig_H]

No offense DJ but how the **** would you know

Where the **** did i say that i 'know' ???

It's fecking speculation and opinion, like everything else. How about you find someone else to e-stalk? There are more important things going on right now than your bizarre need to harrass me

[Guest]

Such a loser. Who’d pretend to be a professor on an internet forum? The bloke can’t even spell.

'Esteemed professor' at one of the best Australian Universities. And he was head hunted at that.

[bobbyfallon]

Sky Sports News NOW:
SKY SPORTS UDNERSTANDS DIC HAVE MADE A £400M BID FOR LIVERPOOL
Old news, but another confirmed story.

need to get up out of bed a bit earlier

[Shaggy]

Thing is he actually is a (sort of) professor (well, lecturer). I've seen a picture of him One day when he reaches new heights of cuntishness it will get posted

How d'you know it's him?

Not that I give a ****. All I know is that he can't spell, his grammar is appalling, he has outrageous delusions of grandeur and he's been wrong AGAIN!

[Craig_H]

Giving them a £50m profit on their purchase in just over a year ? Hmmm

The priority is to get them out, whatever it takes.

I'd honestly be happy to see the £50m come out of our transfer budget, if it came down to that. Just want them out.