Syrian businessman enters Liverpool race

Kirdi claimed in a statement that he had agreed a price and that a formal agreement is being drawn up. His statement comes just three days after the Chinese businessman Kenneth Huang made his group's bid for the club public. Some suspect that Kirdi's claim could be an attempt to drive up any price paid by Huang, who has offered under £300m for the club, around half of what the owners are seeking.

Kirdi's group of investors, from the Middle East and Canada, have promised to clear Liverpool's debt and provide the investment required to build the new Anfield in Stanley Park.