Liverpool have confirmed they have received an approach from American businessman George Gillett "which may or may not lead to an offer" for the club, although Dubai International Capital remain in pole position to buy the Anfield club. The announcement was made to the Stock Exchange to comply with the Takeover Code and in response to speculation in the last week.
The statement to shareholders read: " . . . Liverpool Football Club today confirms that it has received an approach from George Gillett which may or may not lead to an offer."
Liverpool sources this week insisted the takeover by DIC could be confirmed "within weeks". A successful deal with DIC would mean work on the club's new stadium in Stanley Park could start in March.
Gillett, the owner of Montreal Canadiens ice hockey club who has already had a bid to buy the club rejected by David Moores, has recently written to the Liverpool chairman offering an increased deal. Liverpool sources distanced themselves from the move and claim they are soldiering on with the conclusion of negotiations with DIC, who are intent on completing their £450 million move to gain control of the club.
The latest move by Gillett is considered to be a red herring by the Liverpool hierarchy. It is expected within a couple of weeks DIC will be in a position to announce through the Stock Exchange they have had a bid accepted for Moores' 51 per cent holding. That would trigger the sale of the rest of the club's shares to DIC and the agreement to start work on the stadium.
West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson has confirmed the club are "in discussion" over a possible move to the London 2012 Olympic stadium. The club's long-term ground plans have been the subject of speculation for some time. Magnusson yesterday told the London Evening Standard: "We are in discussion with Olympic authorities regarding the 2012 stadium. It will be difficult but if that is not going to happen, we will go somewhere else."
The world famous Maracana stadium, initially ruled out as a venue for the 2014 World Cup that Brazil is bidding to host, is back in the running. Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) president Ricardo Teixeira, who once suggested the historic stadium should be imploded, said yesterday he had changed his mind. His about-turn followed a meeting with Sergio Cabral, governor of Rio de Janeiro state which owns the stadium.
"We had tried several times before to get . . confirmation from the state government that the necessary modifications would be made but that did not happen," Teixeira told reporters after a lunch with Cabral. "But for the first time, we've spoken to the government and the government is willing to implant . . . a German model," he added, referring to the reconstruction of Berlin's Olympiastadion, used for the 2006 World Cup final.
