KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum More Interest Confirmed

Investment Bank Seymour Pierce have insisted one of their clients has serious hopes of completing a takeover of Liverpool Football Club.

Kenny Huang is said to be mounting a bid based in the Far East - confirmed as backed by the Chinese Investment Corporation - while a mixture of Canadian and Arabian businessmen fronted by former Syrian professional Yahya Kirdi claim they are in advanced negotiations.

The latter are said to be preferred by Tom Hicks and George Gillett as the Huang consortium value their joint stakes at nothing. A sum just in excess of the debts to Royal Bank of Scotland and Wachovia is said to be all on offer.

Seymour Pierce have assisted others to buy football clubs and executive chairman Keith Harris insists there is guidance being dispensed over an acquisition of the Reds.

He said: "All I am prepared to say is that we have 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 and are prepared to take a long-term view. I can't say any more at the minute."

Huang an investor in many sports has confirmed his involvement in a bid but says they have yet to make a formal offer.

A statement reads: "In response to widespread media reports that Kenny Huang had made a formal bid for Liverpool Football Club. Mr Huang would like to emphasise 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.

"Unless there is a statement that specifically comes from Mr Huang or his authorised representatives, which presently is solely Hill & Knowlton Hong Kong office, we would suggest such comments should be given little credence.

"At this point in time there is nothing further for Mr Huang to announce. If there comes a time where this changes, we will make the appropriate announcements.

There's been a suggestion by Digger in the Guardian site that Harris may have be working for H & G rather than any buyer.

Dealmaker Kops it # The Guardian, Thursday 5 August 2010

The ubiquitous football dealmaker Keith Harris popped up on telly yesterday to give his view on Liverpool's sale situation, amid talk that he is representing an unknown bidder. He claimed the club was worth more than the reported £300m-plus sale price, which if you think about it would be rather an unusual statement from someone representing a potential buyer. Could it be that he is instead acting for the current owners to achieve the a better price for the club? Some think so, and he did not respond to Digger's message yesterday asking him whether he was involved. But if he is working for Liverpool, he is not doing it wholeheartedly. Throughout his interview yesterday the 1990s-edition Manchester United shirt that sits in pride of place in his office was in full view.

I wondered where that duck was