I know these are in the monster thread but don't want to see them buried there as it's HUGE news.
Liverpool's refinancing deal hits late hitch
By David Bond
Peter Crouch might have saved Liverpool from a disastrous defeat by Aston Villa at Anfield last night but the club could be set for yet more turmoil after it emerged that a £350 million refinancing deal is on the verge of collapse.
Although the club's under-fire American owners insist negotiations with the Royal Bank of Scotland and investment bank Wachovia remain on course, City sources told The Daily Telegraph last night that the deal had hit a last-minute hitch.
The latest twist in the Liverpool saga could open the door for Dubai International Capital to launch a £350 million takeover bid for the club - a year after they were squeezed out by the Americans.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard admitted last night that the off-field problems were affecting the players, saying: "We know what's going on, but as players you've got a job to do on the pitch and you try to put what's going on off the pitch to the back of your mind. But sometimes it's impossible, when it is every day."
Liverpool co-chairman Tom Hicks promised last Monday that the deal to refinance the one-year loan from RBS to fund his £220 million takeover with George Gillett last February would be announced at the end of last week.
A spokesman for Hicks said yesterday he remained confident the refinancing deal would be concluded. He also reiterated a statement issued by Hicks on Sunday which denied that the Dallas billionaire had already agreed to sell the club to DIC. Hicks maintains he is committed to being a long-term owner of Liverpool.
Time is running out for the Americans to conclude the loan agreement. Contrary to reports that they had until the end of February to sign the deal, it is now understood their one-year loan with RBS expires in just under two weeks.
However, if the refinancing falls through, DIC will be in pole position to come in and rescue the club.
Despite tentative negotiations with Hicks, no formal offer has yet been tabled by DIC.
Liverpool's refinancing deal hits late hitch - Football News - Telegraph
Hicks and Gillett are running out of time
By David Bond
Liverpool's under-fire American owners say they are still on course to secure a £350 million refinancing deal despite yet another delay.
With the future ownership of the club in the balance, the conclusion of the deal with Royal Bank of Scotland and America's fourth-largest bank, Wachovia, will determine whether Dubai International Capital are able to launch an immediate £350m takeover bid.
Although DIC want to make a move now, they will not launch a formal offer until they have held talks with RBS, who loaned Tom Hicks and George Gillett the money to complete their £220m acquisition last February. So far Hicks has refused to allow DIC to talk to the bank until after the refinancing is complete.
In an interview with the American business network CNBC at the start of last week, Hicks said: "It [the refinancing] has taken a little bit longer than it should. But it will close by the end of the week." Despite that promise, the latest in a series of deadlines missed by Hicks and the banks, City sources told The Daily Telegraph yesterday that no deal was likely to be announced until the "latter end of the week".
The latest delay to a refinancing package promised since the end of last summer will lead to fresh concern that the Americans' plans to reorganise their debts have suffered a last-minute hitch.
Time is running out. Contrary to reports that they had until the end of February to sign the deal, it is now understood that their initial one-year loan with RBS expires on Feb 4. RBS executives are also likely to be made nervous by threats from fans to build on their protests at Anfield last night by calling for a boycott of the bank.
A spokesman for Hicks yesterday said the Dallas billionaire was confident the refinancing was on track. He reiterated a statement issued on Sunday which denied reports of a deal with DIC and insisted he and Gillett have no interest in selling the club. But it is thought that Hicks feels he will be in a stronger position to demand more money for Liverpool from DIC once refinancing is complete.
DIC, however, are prepared to call his bluff and drop their interest unless Hicks lowers his expectations.
Talks between Hicks and DIC over the possible sale of a 15 per cent stake in the club collapsed in November after the American valued the club at £1 billion, a price DIC believed unrealistic.
Hicks and Gillett are running out of time - Football News - Telegraph
