Stars' owner close to buying Liverpool

Associated Press
2/1/2007 7:29:18 PM

DALLAS (AP) - Tom Hicks, owner of the NHL's Dallas Stars and the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball, is close to adding Liverpool of the English Premier League to his list of sports holdings.

Hicks has agreed to join Montreal Canadiens owner George Gillett Jr. in a bid to purchase the five-time European champions, a person familiar with the negotiations said Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made.

The decision by Hicks to join Gillette's bid was first reported by The Dallas Morning News on its website Thursday. Hicks did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

Hicks would have a 50 per cent stake in the group. Gillette's offer seemed imminent after a Dubai, U.A.E.-based consortium pulled out of a proposed US$882 million offer Wednesday. Dubai International Capital, owned by the ruler of Dubai, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, called off negotiations after hearing that the board of directors was considering a bid from Gillett.

Liverpool has won a record 18 English league titles and most recently the UEFA Champions League in 2005.

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