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Liverpool linked with fresh takeover bid

Martin Broughton is keen to secure a deal before the end of the month © Getty Images

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The waters of Liverpool's proposed takeover have been muddied by the public pronouncements of a potential new suitor in a Syrian businessman heading up an Arab and Canadian consortium.

Following reports earlier this week that Chinese-American businessman Kenny Huang was looking to invest in the club, the new group, led by former Syria international Yahya Kirdi, are now reported to be in advanced discussions with the Premier League club and to be finalising a purchase price, repayment of debt and even seeking financing for Liverpool's long planned new stadium in Stanley Park.

The unloved co-owning duo of George Gillett and Tom Hicks are said to have received a formal offer from Huang and now Gillett is reported to have introduced Kirdi to senior Anfield staff and the Royal Bank of Scotland. The club owes the institution a reported £237 million.

"Liverpool is a massive football club with passionate and proud fans in Merseyside and in every part of the world," Kirdi told Sky. "With additional money to improve the squad and financing in place to build the new stadium, Liverpool will be on a solid foundation to compete in the Premiership and in Europe for years to come."

With Fernando Torres committing his future to the club to follow Steven Gerrard in pledging allegiance to Roy Hodgson's new Anfield broom, the dark skies of season 2009-10 look to be clearing for the Reds. The majority of the club's fans will be heartened by the seemingly imminent departure of the North American owners, who appointed former airline exec Martin Broughton as chairman to find new owners when they decided to place the club up for sale in April.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.