Tom Hicks deters two ‘perfect fit’ offers for Liverpool

Hicks and Gillett bought Liverpool in 2007 (Photo: Andy Nugent)

Tom Hicks has further prolonged his tenure at Anfield by putting off two potential investors with his high asking price.

Hicks, who bought the Merseyside club along with fellow American tycoon George Gillett in 2007, placed an asking price on the club of around £800 million which has put off investors who would be a “perfect fit” for the club.

The news comes from sources at Barclays Capital, the firm charged with finding a buyer for the club, who are said to be becoming increasingly frustrated with Hicks.

Sources from the firm stated that they had attracted some “exciting investors” in the form of a consortium led by a prominent American businessman and an interested Middle Eastern bidder.

But the club’s high asking price has put the potential investors off making a bid for the debt-ridden Anfield club, claiming that they do not want to be held to ransom over the price.

“We have found more than one really good fit investors, who have the wealth not to worry about a few hundred million quid,” a source at Barclays Capital told The Daily Mirror.

“But they will not be held to ransom, because they know the asking price is unreasonable, and they simply don’t want to be taken for a ride, no matter how rich they are.”

The concerns will only add to the frustration felt by Liverpool supporters desperate for stability at the club following the ousting of manager Rafael Benítez, who is expected to be revealed as the Inter Milan manager later today.

The Anfield club are still searching for the man who will replace Benítez, but with the ownership issues remaining a major problem for the club, some of the shortlisted targets set by Kenny Dalglish and Christian Purslow may be put off by a move to the five-time European champions.