Potential new owner promise transfer spree and new stadium
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Liverpool takeover bidder Kenny Huang promises transfer spree and new stadium if he can oust Americans
Chinese businessman Kenny Huang has pledged to invest heavily in Liverpool should his ownership bid succeed.
Promises: Huang has big ideas for Liverpool
The head of Hong Kong-based investment company QSL Sports Ltd has been in talks with Royal Bank of Scotland for some time over buying out the Reds' £237million debt.
That would give him 'a ridiculously large amount of leverage', a source said, in order to be able to force out unpopular owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
But the spending would not stop there as Huang, whose interest is described as 'remarkably serious', is keen to get a deal done in order to be able to furnish manager Roy Hodgson with money to spend in this month's transfer window.
In addition, he will also turn his attention to finally getting Liverpool's new 60,000-seater stadium built in Stanley Park after three years of inertia.
'He wants to get it done quickly so investment can come this summer,' said a source close to the bid.
'Liverpool need investment in the playing squad and infrastructure and Huang wants to build the stadium.
'The club has an outstanding reputation but does not have the infrastructure to keep with it and make it grow.'
Huang is backed by one of the wealthiest investment funds in the Far East and is well known in China for his interests in baseball and basketball, last year buying a 15 per cent stake in American NBA side Cleveland Cavaliers.
In the Red: Liverpool's American co-owners owe RBS about £237m
He was first linked with a buy-out at Liverpool two years ago but believes now is the time to make his move.
Huang is making all the right noises to get supporters on board but, although the majority will be delighted to see the back of Hicks and Gillett, the fans will be wary of grandiose promises.
The American owners made similar claims when they assumed control at Anfield just over three years ago, with Gillett insisting there would be a 'spade in the ground (for the new stadium) within 60 days'.
That particular boast, like many others, remains unfulfilled while investment in the squad has gone backwards during their tempestuous reign.
Underway: David Ngog (right) celebrates scoring for Liverpool against Rabotnicki in the Champions League last week
The pair put the club up for sale in April after admitting they had taken Liverpool as far as they could and independent chairman Martin Broughton was appointed along with Barclays Capital to find a new buyer.
However, Huang bypassed that process completely by going straight to major creditors RBS.
He hopes by making an offer which will see the bank receive most of their money back he can stay one step ahead and force Hicks and Gillett out of Anfield.
'By going to RBS you can leverage a large amount of pressure that no one else can on the owners,' the insider added.
'It is a deal which has no interest in shareholders, meaning there will be no profit for Hicks and Gillett.'
Reds alert: Liverpool fans have taken issue with the owners
Gillett informed RBS last week that he was in advanced negotiations with Syrian businessman Yahya Kirdi.
However, this has been viewed as a stalling tactic in an attempt to delay the bank's considerations.
If RBS decide to turn down Huang's proposal - and no new viable bidders are forthcoming - they have the option of calling in their loan in October.
It would then be classed as 'distressed debt' but with the transfer window, by then, having closed Liverpool would be a much less attractive proposition to investors.
Huang is believed to have already spoken to senior figures at Anfield to express his seriousness about a buy-out and in the hope that his message will filter down to help persuade top stars like Fernando Torres, who returned to training today after his post-World Cup break, the club does have a better future.