LONDON, Aug 4, AFP): Syrian businessman Yahya Kirdi claims he is close to sealing a takeover of Premier League giants Liverpool. Which is owned by Americans Thomas Hicks and George Gillett. On Wednesday Kirdi, who represents a group of investors from the Middle East and Canada, claimed a price has been agreed and a formal purchase agreement “is in the final stage of negotiation”. A statement from Kirdi said: “The group is in advanced negotiations with Thomas Hicks and George Gillett, co-owners of Liverpool Football Club, to purchase 100 percent of the club. “Agreement has been reached on all major terms including the purchase price, repayment of the existing bank debt from RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) and Wells Fargo and financing of a new stadium in Liverpool’s Stanley Park. “A formal purchase agreement between the parties is in the final stage of negotiation.”

Kirdi’s claims, however, are being treated with caution. His representatives made similar claims in April when no deal was done, and he has been dealing with Hicks and Gillett rather than Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton, who has been detailed to sell the club. Kirdi is a resident of Canada and a former Syria international who oversees investments in Europe and North America on behalf of his investor group, said the statement. “Liverpool is a massive football club with passionate and proud fans in Merseyside and in every part of the world,” said Kirdi.

“With additional money to improve the squad and financing in place to build the new stadium, LFC will be on a solid foundation to compete in the Premiership and in Europe for years to come.”
Keith Harris, head of investment bank Seymour Pierce, told Sky Sports News there are still other interested parties looking at the club.
“All I am prepared to say is we’ve looked at it very carefully on behalf of would-be buyers, who we know are very serious, we know are cash-rich, we know have the right incentive to do it, the right motivation to do it, and are prepared to take a long-term view,” Harris said.
“I can’t say any more at the moment. We have represented a buyer in the past and that is an ongoing situation.”

Meanwhile, Chinese businessman Kenny Huang on Wednesday denied widespread reports that he had tabled a formal bid to buy Liverpool.
Huang’s representatives, Hill & Knowlton, issued a statement sent to AFP clarifying their client’s position in connection with the Anfield club.
It read: “In response to widespread media reports that Kenny Huang had made a formal bid for Liverpool Football Club, Huang would like to emphasize that he has registered interest in investing in Liverpool FC but has made no formal bid.
“There has been much speculation and commentary from a wide array of people, many of whom have little knowledge of the facts.”
The statement added that these reports should be “given little credence” until such time as Huang or his representatives comment specifically on the situation.

“At this point in time there is nothing further for Huang to announce. If there comes a time where this changes, we will make the appropriate announcements.”
In another development, the head of a Bahrain and Swiss-based investment firm has made a formal offer to buy Premier League club Blackburn.
Company spokeswoman Julia Thiem told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Indian businessman Ahasan Ali Syed, who heads Western Gulf Advisory, made the offer last month.
Thiem said the company could not discuss the proposal made to the club’s financial adviser, investment bank Rothschild, because of a nondisclosure agreement.
Blackburn chairman John Williams says a number of parties have expressed interest in buying the club.
Syed, a 36-year-old lawyer who trained at the London School of Economics, will reportedly pay off the club’s £20 million ($31.85 million; 24 million euros) of debt and invest £300 million ($478; 361 million euros).
A number of consortiums have contacted the Jack Walker Trustees over the last three years including one from ex-JJB Sports chief Chris Ronnie, and another based in Iceland.
In June another Indian entrepreneur, Saurin Shah, was reportedly prepared to bid for the club but nothing came of it.