Hicks has no plans to sell Liverpool to investors

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Less than a year after Hicks and fellow countryman George Gillett gained control at Anfield, DIC are again being linked with an offer to take up 50 per cent as speculation grows of a cooling in the relationship between the current co-owners.

Hicks's unpopularity with the fans reached a new low earlier this week with his statement that Jurgen Klinsmann had been approached to take over as manager if Rafa Benitez left.

But a spokesman for Hicks said: 'Any suggestion that Messrs Hicks and Gillett are contemplating a sale of the club or any portion thereof to DIC or anyone else is categorically untrue.'

Gillett and Hicks took out loans totalling close to £220million with the Royal Bank of Scotland in February last year to take over the club and clear debts. Since then, payments for transfers and early expenditure on the proposed new 70,000-seat stadium in Stanley Park have taken the figure to £350m.

That debt is due to be repaid in six weeks or the bank could take over the club, but the pair expect a refinancing deal with RBS and American investment bank Wachovia will be announced within a week.

Revised plans for the new stadium should be confirmed at the same time but any share sale at inflated prices would not make sound business sense for DIC.

Gillett persuaded Hicks to join him in last year's buy- out — originally for the 51.8 per cent stake of then chairman David Moores and later the whole club.

A widespread belief that Gillett wants to end the partnership and join up with DIC has not been killed. But, within Anfield, the possibility of such a union is rated no higher than 10 per cent.

Gillett, owner of the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey club, was upset when Hicks, who owns the Dallas Stars ice hockey team and Texas Rangers baseball side, disclosed that talks with Klinsmann took place in California.

It was seen by many as making the position of Benitez, who had earlier been in dispute with the pair over transfer policy, untenable. Fans voiced their protests against Hicks and support for Benitez at Tuesday night's FA Cup replay.