Hicks unwilling to sell

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has not formally rejected Dubai International Capital’s reported offer for the Premier League club, but remains unwilling to sell his stake, a source close to the American has said.

It is understood that DIC made an offer for fellow owner George Gillett’s 50% share in the club earlier today, which was extended to Hicks.

But associates of Hicks have reiterated the stance made public at the end of last month when he vehemently denied that his stake was up for sale.

Despite reports that DIC are willing to pay £400m for the Merseysiders, handing Hicks and Gillett a profit of £25m each, and take on all of the club's debt, Hicks' position appears as entrenched as ever.

He remains unwilling to deal with any parties who would ask him to accept anything other than majority shareholder status, and retains the ability to veto any sale of Gillett’s stake.

Although no formal statement is expected from the American, his stance remains the same as last month, when he said: “Reports that I am about to sell my stake in the Liverpool Football Club, or to invite DIC to examine the club’s books in preparation for such a sale – like other such reports planted in the UK press in recent weeks by parties with their own self-interested agenda – are absolutely and categorically false.

“The reality is that I am personally, professionally and financially committed to the club and its supporters and that I will continue to honour that commitment to the best of my ability now and in the future.”