Runners and riders in race for Liverpool

The news that George Gillett and Tom Hicks are to sell Liverpool FC may have been brewing for some time, but the finality of Friday's announcement has thrust the club even further into the spotlight.

New chairman Martin Broughton, appointed to oversee the sale of the club, expects a deal to be struck this year, whilst newspaper reports are already hinting at "six or seven" parties being interested in rescuing the ruins of the Americans' three-year stay on Merseyside.

So just who are the prospective owners looking to get their feet under the table at Anfield? Goal.com UK takes you through the runners and riders in the Liverpool ownership race...

Mystery Chinese Backer

For a man who gives so little away in public, the comments of Rafael Benitez's agent this week made for interesting reading. Manuel Garcia Quillon - Benitez's agent - stated that the Spaniard has been contacted by a mystery Chinese investor, who is keen to keep the manager at Anfield.

"The Chinese have an interest and called Rafa and told him that their condition for buying the club is that he remains coach," said Quillon.

Speculation has already begun as to the identity of this Asian backer, with some reports suggesting that Yang Huiyan, a female benefactor with a worth of around £14 billion, could be the person in question.

The Rhone Group

Reds managing director Christian Purslow's season-long search to find £100 million-worth of fresh investment for the club appears ultimately to have failed, but it did result in one public offer.

The Rhone Group, a New York-based private equity firm, were reported to have made an offer of £110m for a 40 per cent stake in Liverpool. Gillett and Hicks were said to be deeply unimpressed by this offer - which would have valued the entire club at around £300m, some £200m less than the Americans' original valuation - and failed to respond to the April 3rd deadline imposed by the group.

Now Gillett and Hicks have stated publicly their wish to sell the club, the Rhone Group could well return with another offer, although Liverpool supporters will be sceptical, given its association with leveraged buy-outs and hedge funds.

Subrata Roy

India has long sought to gain a foothold in the big-money market of English football, and Subrata Roy's interest came as little surprise to anyone familiar with his dealings.

The chairman of Sahara, one of India's largest savings groups, Roy has solid links in the country's cricket and hockey teams, and was rumoured to be prepared to take on Liverpool's spiralling debt in return for a 51 per cent stake in the club earlier this year.

Roy is well connected in the construction industry, a must for any investor given that Liverpool are desperately in need of a new stadium, and has, as Indian expert Sharat Pradhan told Goal.com UK in February "thrived on publicity and prestige".

Owning Liverpool would be a neat way to boost his standing across the globe, especially if he can obtain the club at a reasonable price.

Yahya Kirdi

Reports on Friday suggested that Kirdi, a Syrian businessman and former international footballer, has held "advanced" talks with both Gillett and Hicks over a proposed takeover of the club.

Andy Lynch, a former Celtic footballer involved with Kirdi's bid, told the Daily Mirror that: "Talks are on-going with Tom Hicks and George Gillett and are at an advanced stage.

"The planned buy-out will have massive implications for Liverpool. Liverpool aren't the force they were so this is just what they need."

Kirdi is rumoured to be friends with Gillett's son Foster and attended, along with Lynch, the Reds' home game with Stoke City back in January. His bid for control of Liverpool is said to be backed by one of the UAE's ruling families.

Prince Faisal bin Fahad bin Abdulla

One that has been off the radar for a while, but Prince Faisal bin Fahad bin Adbulla did show genuine interest in the club back in September.

The Saudi Arabian Prince, who owns the F6 sports investment company, was said to be prepared to offer up to £350m for a stake which, according to his spokesman "could range from nought to one hundred per cent".

The Prince attended Liverpool's game with Hull City in September, though both Gillett and Hicks claimed his presence was merely part of the Reds' plans to open sports academies in Saudi Arabia, and it was reported that neither were willing to take the Prince's interest seriously.

Faisal himself was reported to be unprepared to be used merely as a debt-management tool, with his spokesman, Barry Didato claiming that "he cannot be seen as a solution to the debt or problems in the existing relationship between the owner".

Didato added: "His Highness would not want to get involved in the [problems between the pair], he is not a marriage counsellor. The debt has to be at a manageable level before Prince Faisal would invest and the current level is high. He cannot be looked to as someone who is going to clean up the balance sheet - Gillett has to deal with this."

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.