LIVERPOOL Football Club is set to be taken over by the investment arm of the Dubai government, the ECHO can confirm.

Control will transfer into the hands of the world's fifth-richest man, whose personal fortune dwarfs that of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.:eek:

Barring a last minute hitch the stunning deal worth around £400m will go ahead in the next few weeks, taking Britain's most successful football club into a hugely exciting new era.

The takeover, which should ultimately delight supporters, represents a remarkable coup for the club and for Chairman David Moores and Chief Executive Rick Parry.

Both have worked tirelessly to ensure the Reds receive the huge injection of cash they need, from the right partner who understands Anfield's history and traditions.

The deal will fund the building of the Reds' new 60,000 seater, £200m stadium in Stanley Park, clear the club's £80m debt and bring significant funds to develop Liverpool on and off the pitch, enabling them to continue to compete for the world's top stars.

Dubai International Capital is today embarking on a process of due diligence at Anfield examining details of the club's financial affairs before they sign the agreement.

Provided that proceeds without a problem, the takeover could be concluded either at the end of this month or in the New Year.

The club is unlikely to make any statement until it feels the time is right.

However, the Reds' battle for investment is now all but over following talks with DIC - a company which owns Tussauds and the London eye and which is linked to Dubai's ruling Maktoum family.

The Maktoums are one of the world's richest, owning the Godolphin Racing stables as well as governing one of the most rapidly developing, oil-rich countries in the modern world.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum is Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, as well as the Ruler of Dubai.

With an estimated personal wealth of $10bn, there are only four men on the planet with more cash than him.

Should be interesting! I wonder if the new Reds stadium will be called the "Anfield Dubai Stadium"? :PDT_Xtremez_12:

Chris

I hope they dont turn into another Chelsea and price the real fans out of it.

It is the Dubai government which is buying the club, not an individual. If they buy, the stadium will start ASAP, probably with major amendments. The LFC design was bland and rather plain. That will mean the end of these stadium share rumours, then EFC can build in Kirkby.

You never know, the new owners may want the stadium near the airport for charter flights. I can't see them being impressed with the Anfield district.

It is the Dubai government which is buying the club, not an individual. If they buy, the stadium will start ASAP, probably with major amendments. The LFC design was bland and rather plain. That will mean the end of these stadium share rumours, then EFC can build in Kirkby.

You never know, the new owners may want the stadium near the airport for charter flights. I can't see them being impressed with the Anfield district.

Thats the design they have the planning permission for though and LFC want to be in by 2009. If they start a whole new game of planning consultations or talks about relocations it'll be a farce and the people of Anfield have been f***ed around enough by LFC over the uncertainties. The daft thing is in the time they spent arguing with the NWDA over £10 million the cost of the steel required went up by £70 million.

Thats the design they have the planning permission for though and LFC want to be in by 2009.


The new LFC may think differently. I'm sure they will.


If they start a whole new game of planning consultations or talks about relocations it'll be a farce and the people of Anfield have been f***ed around enough by LFC over the uncertainties. The daft thing is in the time they spent arguing with the NWDA over £10 million the cost of the steel required went up by £70 million.


A site near the airport with no residential homes around would go through PP pronto. Or the new owers may take them outside the city if they city screws them around as they have with Maro on Brunswick Quay. And who can blame them.

As it stands LFC need to get out of Anfield to get reveues to compete at a top level. They are slipping down that is obvious. The new owners can supply the money for top players in the interim while a new stadium is being designed and applied for and being built. They have that sort of money. They will get what they want - whatever that is.

The way Chris Bascombe puts it in the Echo the takeover includes £200 million to build the stadium in Stanley Park. The reason this has dragged on so long, especially in getting the green light for grants, is because the club have been seeking the right investment deal. I cant see them walking away from this plan now, especially as Rick Parry looks set to remain chief executive - this stadium project has been his baby all along.

Given the way the club have been pissed about by the council over getting planning consent then getting railroaded into groundshare I'd happily see them do one and go to a borough that welcomes them with open arms. Somewhere near Halewood would be ideal i.e. knowlsey MBC and close to rail and air links. However I'm someone who can see the bigger picture and the need to move with the times, try telling that to the majority of fans on the Kop who dont even want to move 200 yards. The protests at a move would be enromous, the club simply wont be arsed going about it.

The way Chris Bascombe puts it in the Echo the takeover includes £200 million to build the stadium in Stanley Park. The reason this has dragged on so long, especially in getting the green light for grants, is because the club have been seeking the right investment deal. I cant see them walking away from this plan now, especially as Rick Parry looks set to remain chief executive - this stadium project has been his baby all along.


As I say, once in they may think differently.


Given the way the club have been pissed about by the council over getting planning consent then getting railroaded into groundshare


They should never have been given PP in a residential area and on a listed public park. Pissed about? LFC got what they wanted when they shoudl have been told to piss off.


I'd happily see them do one and go to a borough that welcomes them with open arms. Somewhere near Halewood would be ideal i.e. knowlsey MBC and close to rail and air links. However I'm someone who can see the bigger picture and the need to move with the times, try telling that to the majority of fans on the Kop who dont even want to move 200 yards. The protests at a move would be enromous, the club simply wont be arsed going about it.

Those on the Kop don't matter and their crying will be in vane. They know nothing about the modern business aspect of the football. They are anal. English Premier football is massive around the world, those goons can't see that. They still can't get to grips that a Spaniard is running the team and Spaniards are playing. They still think Shankly is still boss.

The club will be geared to whatever the shieks want - and I hope that means getting out of Anfield. If they want to have the stadium near the airport and have 50 charter flights for the weekend from Dubai every two weeks - they will have it.

Man U fans were scared that the NY Yanks would asset strip the club. LFC have no fear of that. The Dubai government would not do such a thing as it would reflect on the country. They would use the club as a means of closer co-coperation with the UK and promoting their youths. It will be Dubai's team as well as belonging to half of Liverpool. Expect Arab kids playing.

You never know, the new owners may want the stadium near the airport for charter flights. I can't see them being impressed with the Anfield district.

Anfield looks like Baghdad compared to Dubai!

ah hey, aye aye maxie... inshallah you'll love the halal new improved meat pies from the 'new' Anfield aye ;)

As I say, once in they may think differently.



They should never have been given PP in a residential area and on a listed public park. Pissed about? LFC got what they wanted when they shoudl have been told to piss off.



Those on the Kop don't matter and their crying will be in vane. They know nothing about the modern business aspect of the football. They are anal. English Premier football is massive around the world, those goons can't see that. They still can't get to grips that a Spaniard is running the team and Spaniards are playing. They still think Shankly is still boss.

The club will be geared to whatever the shieks want - and I hope that means getting out of Anfield. If they want to have the stadium near the airport and have 50 charter flights for the weekend from Dubai every two weeks - they will have it.

Man U fans were scared that the NY Yanks would asset strip the club. LFC have no fear of that. The Dubai government would not do such a thing as it would reflect on the country. They would use the club as a means of closer co-coperation with the UK and promoting their youths. It will be Dubai's team as well as belonging to half of Liverpool. Expect Arab kids playing.

Reading through all your football posts I cant work out for sure if you are a Red or Blue, but am 60-40 that you are a Blue. So I'll stick my neck out and ask is the above your opinion of what will happen, should happen or hope will happen knowing Liverpool will slide towards relegation as the team is packed full of poor quality Arab kids who got in the team cos their dads paid for them to play in front of 10,000 package tourists and the anal Kop has deserted them?

Reading through all your football posts I cant work out for sure if you are a Red or Blue, but am 60-40 that you are a Blue. So I'll stick my neck out and ask is the above your opinion of what will happen, should happen or hope will happen knowing Liverpool will slide towards relegation as the team is packed full of poor quality Arab kids who got in the team cos their dads paid for them to play in front of 10,000 package tourists and the anal Kop has deserted them?

I'm an Evertonian. I think it great thing that EFC did not get Kings Dock and hope both clubs stay well away from Central Docks. Both should be out of Waklton/Anfield and not one of them on listed parks, and into suitable sites where they are not a nusiance. I don't care who owns either of them and EFC should get rid of Kenright as he is a poor owner.

That is better for you.

Certainly is, the anal Kop comment had swayed me! I couldnt care less who owns them either, its a case of move with the way football has gone or die. Kenwright is a classic example of what's not needed as a Chairman, he oozes sentiment and tradition, but is lost in the modern game. Moores on the other hand is just plain useless.

This news is a bit worrying (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/sport/2006/12/27/sfnliv27.xml)

"....DIC see their investment in Liverpool as purely a business deal built round the new stadium Liverpool are planning at Stanley Park. When they sell in seven years' time they are hoping to make a huge profit, providing a return of around 25 per cent on their investment for every year of ownership. There appear to be no plans to invest in new players."

This news is a bit worrying (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/sport/2006/12/27/sfnliv27.xml)

"....DIC see their investment in Liverpool as purely a business deal built round the new stadium Liverpool are planning at Stanley Park. When they sell in seven years' time they are hoping to make a huge profit, providing a return of around 25 per cent on their investment for every year of ownership. There appear to be no plans to invest in new players."

Hi Dave

The possible bailout of the firm in seven years time is worrying, I agree, and the fact that they seem to see putting their money in Liverpool more as an investment in a "brand" rather than for the furtherance of the club and the fans' interests.

On the other hand, what would we expect but that an investment portfolio be aimed at investors and their interests? I should think that there is more to the deal in terms of what the money could do for Liverpool FC, since bottom line is that DIC would, I should think, want the club to be a successful Premier league club and to achieve more, which will reward their investing in LFC after all.

Chris

This news is a bit worrying (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/sport/2006/12/27/sfnliv27.xml)

"....DIC see their investment in Liverpool as purely a business deal built round the new stadium Liverpool are planning at Stanley Park. When they sell in seven years' time they are hoping to make a huge profit,


They do? They had better do their sums again.


There appear to be no plans to invest in new players."

The team goes hand in hand. A large concrete structure is not going to ramp up profits.

The team goes hand in hand. A large concrete structure is not going to ramp up profits.
I hope so John. Thanks:PDT_Piratz_26: