Dubai Int'l to mount takeover bid for Liverpool

LONDON: Liverpool’s American owners could face a takeover bid by Dubai International Capital — the same company it beat to buy the storied Premier League club last year.

The Sunday Times reported that the investment arm of the Dubai government is poised to make an offer to buy out Liverpool owners George Gillett Jr and Tom Hicks. The British Broadcasting Corp said the bid was worth £350 million ($684.3 million).

Hicks and Gillett bought out Liverpool’s shareholders in March 2007 with a £218.9 million (then $431 million) offer, which included an agreement to pay off about £45 million (then US$89 million) of club debt and finance a new stadium.

DIC pulled out of a bid for Liverpool last January. Relations between Liverpool’s owners are rumoured to be strained and the two fell out with manager Rafa Benitez late last year in a squabble over transfer targets.

Hicks admitted last week he had approached Juergen Klinsmann in November to replace Benitez.

Liverpool, which is fourth in the Premier League and 15 points behind leader Manchester United, plays Aston Villa on Monday.