The Liverpool FC ownership saga has taken a twist after Singapore billionaire and Man United fan Peter Lim offered £320 million for the club.
Lim’s offer trumps the £300 million bid accepted by New England Sports Ventures last week with the Singapore businessman reportedly prepared to invest a further £40 million for player transfers.
However, representatives for New England Sports Ventures confirmed to ESPN they have already purchased the famous football club – subject to any High Court action.
Owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks are currently at the High Court where they are opposing the proposed sale of the club to New England Sports Ventures.
If RBS loses the court case with Hicks and Gillett then the door could open to Singapore businessman Lim.
In a statement the 57-year-old said: “I respect and admire Liverpool Football Club which is steeped in tradition and history. I am committed to rebuild the club so that it can soon regain its position at the pinnacle of English and European football, where it truly belongs.
According to Forbes, Lim had a net worth of $1.5 million in 2009 having made his money as a stockbroker before becoming a full-time investor. He is the seventh richest person in Singapore.
His offer would pay off the existing owners’ bank acquisition debt and also free the club of its own bank debt, removing the threat of administration.
Mr Lim continues: “I believe that if its massive debt burden can be removed, the club would be able to focus on improving its performance on the pitch.
“The club needs to strengthen its existing squad. As part of this offer, I will be injecting £40m in cash into the club for Roy Hodgson to bring in new players during the upcoming transfer window. Liverpool needs to start winning again!”
However, the prospect of a Manchester United fan taking over Liverpool is likely to cause uproar among many hardcore Reds supporters.
Peter Lim is not a MU fan. He just own the business when someone dump it due to poor business. Not enough scum fans in Singapore… :-p
Dont expect Man Hoof fans to let the facts get in the way of their unhealthy Liverpool obsession.
Mr Lim may have business interests that involve MU but are you realy expecting any sane person to believe that a businessman who is prepared to cover 300M in debts and provide transfer funds out of his own pocket is in love with Manchester United.
If Mr Lim is the diehard Man U fan that you’re trying to paint him as then why doesn’t he himself feel outrage at investing his money in Liverpool, I ask you?
I’m not sure the article paints him as a die-hard United fan, more a businessman who happens to support United.
Business will obviously come first for him – Liverpool have the potential to dominate this part of the world commercially and it’s surely something Lim would like a piece of.
Weighing up who to go for is tough. Personally, it would be nice if the two parties could work together some how to utilise their power on their respective continents. LFC is a brilliant business but could still do better with these two sides behind them