New overseas buyer enters battle to own Liverpool
Former Football League chairman and renowned football deal-broker Keith Harris claims that another, as yet unnamed, overseas buyer is close to offering between £400million and £500million for Liverpool Football Club.
Harris, who was involved in the recent sales of Manchester City, Aston Villa and West Ham United, is the Executive Chairman of London-based investment bank Seymour Pierce – which claims to be representing the buyer – and he says that the interested party have already completed due diligence of the club, a key factor before a potential deal.
“The overseas buyer we represent has completed due diligence. A huge amount of work has been done,” he said.
“It is none of the groups mentioned in the press. The ball is now in our client's court to make an offer.”
Chinese tycoon Kenny Huang pulled out of his proposed, high-profile deal to own the club last week, although many are claiming that this was simply a bargaining technique aimed at lowering Liverpool’s asking price. Former Syrian international player Yayha Kirdi’s group have also been heavily linked with a takeover.
However, with time running out before the cash-strapped Premier League giants are obliged to start paying back some of their debts to Royal Bank of Scotland, new ownership is seen as vital sooner rather than later.
“I do not think the deal will be done before the transfer window closes this month," said Harris, “but the next pressure point is October when some of the RBS loan of £237million has to be repaid. It may happen then. But in the present climate these things are impossible to predict.”
Tags: