Football Transfer Update: Liverpool’s Martin Broughton overlooking the signing of the club, while Hodgson wants it to be as quick as possible
Liverpool FC is desperately hoping that the sale of the club happens smoothly before the end of the transfer period. Their Chairman Martin Broughton has clarified that the Liverpool board is overseeing all matters thoroughly and they will make sure the deal happens swiftly and before the transfer window ends.
The Chinese businessman Kenny Huang of QSL group has just recently announced that he is interested in taking over Anfield. There are also reports of him having a settlement in seeing over the club’s debts with the Royal Bank of Scotland. At the end of the summer, the debts amassed to about 350 million pounds but sources have revealed that current amount is near to 237 million pounds.
Broughton however, wants to be sure of a successful sale that would benefit the club, especially after remarks and taunts by the former owner David Moores. Broughton has also revealed that QSL’s Huang is not the only party he has for a possible takeover. He has told that there are couple of more bids on the table and he will look at the best possible option before making the final decision.
Broughton was brought into the club for making sure that the selling of the club would be done as soon as possible. He had been given an 18 month period’s deadline for selling the club but there was early response for a Middle East Arabs, who wanted to buy the club. However, the deal could not take place as the two parties didn’t agree on mutual terms.
While talking to media Broughton disclosed, “Any bids that go straight to RBS - and there have been several, come to me and are directed to Barcap (Barclays Capital)”. He also commented on RBS having power in the club’s decisions, “RBS are not involved. The control remains with the board”.
Early reports have concluded that the ownership switch will take place by 31st August but that would be too long for the new Liverpool manger Roy Hodgson. The Englishman is hoping for the deal to sign in as soon as possible, so that he can demand funds from the new owners in order to revamp his squad and for that, he has just about 4 weeks remaining.
Broughton continued about the sale saying, “It still remains the objective to conclude a deal before the end of the transfer window. That remains the objective but there are no deadlines, and we will continue working to complete the process”.
He also spoke about the current owners saying, “Both George Gillett and Tom Hicks remain on the board and they have given commitments that the board of Kop Holdings (Liverpool's UK parent company) is the party that is responsible for the sale”.
Huang happens to be the man in charge of the Hong Kong Company QSL that majorly invests in sports. He is also the head of National Basketball and Baseball League in China. The company is backed by many billionaires and if the deal strikes, it is expected that Liverpool will recover from the financial meltdown and will make a strong comeback in the English Premier League and Champions League.
Huang and Hodgson both have expressed that they are on the same page and want the success of the club. Hodgson has accomplished a brilliant job this summer, since his signing replacing Rafael Benitez, who is now the manager of the Champions League winning team Inter Milan. He has been able to convince Steven Gerrard, Joe Cole and Fernando Torres along with some other major players. Sources have revealed that the former Fulham manager has already spoken to higher authorities at the club and they have expressed their concern over the matter too.
Despite a gloomy season and a not so good looking summer, the club has made a remarkable comeback with the team looking as united as ever and new players looking ahead and ready to revive the club from its miseries.
The English midfielder Joe Cole has stated, “One of the main reasons I came to Liverpool was because I wanted to play with these great players and I'm going to work every day to make Fernando as many chances as I can”.
He added, “I've been watching the way he plays ever since he came to the club and, the season before last, he was the best striker in the world, without a shadow of a doubt. My job is to make chances for the front men and I can't wait to play alongside him”.
Tags: