Liverpool move step closer to takeover by Maktoums.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

-------------------Buffon
Richards--------Carra-----Agger----Lahm
------------Alonso-------Xavi
Alves--------------Gerrard----------Ronaldinho
-------------------Eto'o

Would probably be a team good enough to win everything.

Nah. Messi instead of Alves.

[Shaggy]

Tom Cannon gets on my nerves. I'm not even sure why. He just does.

Knows his stuff though.

[AFII]

Nah. Messi instead of Alves.

He can be on the bench.

[Pacman]

-------------------Buffon
Richards--------Carra-----Agger----Lahm
------------Alonso-------Xavi
Alves--------------Gerrard----------Ronaldinho
-------------------Eto'o

Would probably be a team good enough to win everything.

I think your getting carried away

[kurtangle01]

With respect to Al, I don't think one needs to hob-nob with the Maktoum family to realise they're passionate about sport (well, certainly horse-racing).

Sheikh Mohammed used to win almost everything in his famous maroon silks, and he became even more successful when he set up the all-conquering Godolphin stable. If we're half as successful as Godolphin were/are, we'll be pissing ourselves.

Professor Tom Cannon was on the local news earlier and he talked of how "they won't be hands-on", which is surely a good thing.

To the uninformed, this may seem to be no different to Abramovich's takeover of Chelsea (http://www.chelsea.vitalfootball.co....e.asp?a=40733), but in reality it will be totally different.

That article is written with nothing but FEAR! and bitterness. You've got to love it!!!!!!

[RoadEnd]

Club shop will be stocking the following kit accessory from 1st January.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Knows his stuff though.

Was he standing outside Elland Road again?

[Craig_H]

-------------------Buffon
Richards--------Carra-----Agger----Lahm
------------Alonso-------Xavi
Alves--------------Gerrard----------Ronaldinho
-------------------Eto'o

Would probably be a team good enough to win everything.

[AFII]

I think your getting carried away

The "scary" thing is that he could afford to buy that team.

[Shaggy]

Rafa speaks. Apologies if this has already been posted......

MORE POSSIBILITIES!


Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has welcomed the news that the Premiership club is poised for a £450m takeover.

Dubai International Capital (DIC), the investment arm of Dubai's government, confirmed on Monday that they were in talks about a possible buy-out.

"I have talked to the chairman (David Moores) and chief executive (Rick Parry) about this and I was pleased with what I heard," said Benitez.

"It is always good for a club to have more money and more possibilities."

Liverpool, five-times European champions, have given DIC permission to carry out a complete study of the club's financial records ahead of a possible takeover bid.

The proposed deal is expected to include £200m to build a new 60,000-capacity stadium.

"This is the latest step on the road of finding the long-term investment that the club needs," said Parry.

"This is very important in terms of the proposed new stadium, which is key to plans for the regeneration of the local community.

"On the pitch, Liverpool remains focused on winning and, here again, this is all about doing a deal that gives us the long-term resources to do that."

DIC chief executive Sameer al-Ansari said: "We hope we can agree a deal.

"Liverpool's investment requirements are well publicised. Hopefully this will provide us with the opportunity to fund its needs both on and off the pitch."


Both Moores and Parry stayed behind in Liverpool while the team flew to Istanbul for Tuesday's Champions League match against Galatasaray.

However, the deal is not expected to be concluded until early next year.

DIC owns the Madame Tussauds Group and the Travelodge hotel chain as well as one third of the London Eye.

The company is an investment arm of Dubai Holding, which is owned by Dubai Crown Prince and United Arab Emirates Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Sheikh Mohammed, whose family is internationally renowned for its running of the Godolphin horse racing stables, is the world's fifth richest man, with an estimated personal wealth of $10 billion.

"Already they (DIC) have demonstrated a full understanding of, and respect for, the club's heritage and values," added Parry.

"We also believe they share our passion for success. In particular, DIC believes in investing in the businesses it acquires.

"This is very important in terms of the proposed new stadium, which is key to plans for the regeneration of the local community.

"On the pitch, Liverpool remains focused on winning and, here again, this is all about doing a deal that gives us the long-term resources to do that."

Liverpool have been linked with other takeover bids in recent years.

In 2005, American billionaire Robert Kraft - owner of the New England Patriots NFL team - was linked with a bid for the club.

Thaksin Shinawatra, then Prime Minister of Thailand, also made a high-profile bid to take control of the club in 2004.

Recent suitors have included George Gillet, the owner of the Montreal Canadians ice hockey team who met with Moores and Parry in the United States last month.

The takeover news will concern those worried about the number of Premiership clubs currently in the hands of foreign owners.

Manchester United, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Portsmouth and Aston Villa have all gone through high-profile takeovers by foreign owners in recent years.

[kurtangle01]

The chavs and the scum must be ****ting themselves! Their glory days must surely be close to an end if this deal comes off.

[Shaggy]

Was he standing outside Elland Road again?

No, he was in the studio.

[Pacman]

The "scary" thing is that he could afford to buy that team.

Never going to happen.

I hope you don't think we are going to turn into Chelsea? Sure we might have a bit more money but I very much doubt we will go out and spend 100 mil on players.

I think Rafa will have much the same transfer kitty but if he needs a couple of mil more to get his top target he will be able to get it.

[kopdan]

-------------------Buffon
Richards--------Carra-----Agger----Lahm
------------Alonso-------Xavi
Alves--------------Gerrard----------Ronaldinho
-------------------Eto'o

Would probably be a team good enough to win everything.

and so it begins

[Los Rojos]

Professor Tom Cannon was on the local news earlier and he talked of how "they won't be hands-on", which is surely a good thing.

Just seen him on Sky Sports Shaggy and he was talking about Dubai Holdings focusing more on the new stadium and that there may be a 'fallow' period for the team for a couple of years.

I was pretty positive when I heard the breaking news earlier today but I'd be disappointed to see Rafa bargain hunting during the next four or five transfer windows.