Kuwaiti billionaire may buy Liverpool: report

A Kuwaiti billionaire is reportedly in talks with English Premier club Liverpool's co-owner Tom Hicks for a possible $825 million (£600 million) sale, British press reported early Friday.

The preliminary talks are with Nasser Al Kharafi who is worth $17 billion (£9 billion) and is the 48th richest man in the world.

Liverpool's £350 million loan (about $ 660 million) is due to be renegotiated in July and sources have claimed both Hicks and co-owner George Gillett, who own Liverpool shares at 50-50 and therefore need to be in agreement to sell the club, both have a new willingness to find the right buyer.

Al Kharafi is the 48th richest man in the world

The Kharifi family's wealth comes from construction, plus a number of other activities in banking, catering and tourism. The key negotiator from the Al Kharafi family is believed to be Nasser's nephew, Rafed Al Kharafi.

Liverpool's discussions with the Al Kharafis started when Liverpool's finance director, Phillip Nash, a close ally of Hicks, went to Kuwait earlier this week.

Nash had been hoping for help in Liverpool's project for a new ground, yet it is believed a multi-million-dollar sale of the club was the main motivation.

The talks with the Al Kharafis is in fact the second time within 12 months that the American owners have tried to sell the five-time European champions to the same family.

Liverpool's owners had previously been in talks with Dubai's DIC group, owned by the city's ruler Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, but inner bickering between the owners saw the deal stall and end up shelved by the Dubai ruler.