Liverpool examining ‘several’ bids: chairman

Chinese businessman Kenny Huang is one of “several” potential buyers to submit a bid to buy Liverpool, club chairman Martin Broughton revealed on Tuesday.

Huang has expressed his interest in assuming control of the Reds, with suggestions he would seek to acquire the club’s 237-million-pound (285-million-euro) debt from principal lender the Royal Bank of Scotland.

However, Broughton, who was brought into the club in April to facilitate a sale, revealed there had been “several” bids for the Reds and insisted the decision over the sale will be made by the Liverpool board.

“Any bids that go straight to RBS – and there have been several – come to me and are directed to Barcap (Barclays Capital),” he told the Guardian.

“RBS are not involved. The control remains with the board.”

Broughton added: “It still remains the objective to conclude a deal before the end of the transfer window (August 31).

“That remains the objective but there are no deadlines, and we will continue working to complete the process.

“Both (owners) George Gillett and Tom Hicks remain on the board and they have given commitments that the board of Kop Holdings (Liverpool’s UK parent company) is the party that is responsible for the sale.”

Huang is the head of Hong Kong-based investment company QSL Sports Ltd and is believed to want to secure an early agreement to give manager Roy Hodgson time to bring in reinforcements before the end of the transfer window.

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 it will help persuade top stars like Fernando Torres, who returned to training Monday after his post-World Cup break, that the club does have a better future.