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Liverpool near to takeover
England - 16 January, 2007
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It is expected that English Liverpool's takeover by Dubai International Capital will be concluded soon according to Rick Parry, Liverpool chief executive.
"A huge amount of work has been going on. We'll have something to say soon," Parry told BBC Five Live's Sportsweek.
"Yes, the deal is looking positive and yes, I'm confident it will go through. This will take us to the next level. But it's not a quick fix, a rich man's plaything. It's a long-term model for success, based around the new stadium."
DIC, the investment division of Dubai's government, has been in talks with the Liverpool club for the past six weeks about a possible buy-out.
Parry says the time the group has spent at the club has benefited both parties.
"Over the past month or so they have had a team of people here, working around the clock," added Parry.
"They have been on a real learning curve because football is slightly different to the other businesses they might be involved in.
"It helps that most of the key people we've been dealing with are Liverpool supporters so they know what we're all about.
"It's now a case of finalising the due diligence and pulling everything together, which we hope will be completed relatively quickly."
After two embarrassing cup defeats by English Arsenal last week, Parry said Liverpool is in talks about adding to its club during the January transfer window.
"You have to have priorities and ours are to invest in the first team, which we have done with substantial sums in the past three years," said Parry.
"We may sign players before the transfer widow shuts.
"We are working hard on a few things at the moment and we will reveal everything once it is all sorted out."
Parry confirmed that manager Rafael Benitez turned down a chance to join Spanish Real Madrid last summer because of his dedication to Liverpool.
"In the summer Rafa rejected the chance to move to Real, which was a big, big temptation for him," revealed Parry.
"It was all pretty serious. Real is his club, he was there as a player and as a coach too and it would always be an opportunity he would have to consider.
"But he enjoys being at Liverpool and he believed in the direction we are taking and he is passionate about that too."
"A huge amount of work has been going on. We'll have something to say soon," Parry told BBC Five Live's Sportsweek.
"Yes, the deal is looking positive and yes, I'm confident it will go through. This will take us to the next level. But it's not a quick fix, a rich man's plaything. It's a long-term model for success, based around the new stadium."
DIC, the investment division of Dubai's government, has been in talks with the Liverpool club for the past six weeks about a possible buy-out.
Parry says the time the group has spent at the club has benefited both parties.
"Over the past month or so they have had a team of people here, working around the clock," added Parry.
"They have been on a real learning curve because football is slightly different to the other businesses they might be involved in.
"It helps that most of the key people we've been dealing with are Liverpool supporters so they know what we're all about.
"It's now a case of finalising the due diligence and pulling everything together, which we hope will be completed relatively quickly."
After two embarrassing cup defeats by English Arsenal last week, Parry said Liverpool is in talks about adding to its club during the January transfer window.
"You have to have priorities and ours are to invest in the first team, which we have done with substantial sums in the past three years," said Parry.
"We may sign players before the transfer widow shuts.
"We are working hard on a few things at the moment and we will reveal everything once it is all sorted out."
Parry confirmed that manager Rafael Benitez turned down a chance to join Spanish Real Madrid last summer because of his dedication to Liverpool.
"In the summer Rafa rejected the chance to move to Real, which was a big, big temptation for him," revealed Parry.
"It was all pretty serious. Real is his club, he was there as a player and as a coach too and it would always be an opportunity he would have to consider.
"But he enjoys being at Liverpool and he believed in the direction we are taking and he is passionate about that too."
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