Dubai International Capital set to pounce with £500m Liverpool bid

Dubai International Capital – the investment arm of the Dubai Government – is preparing to launch a £500 million bid to buy Liverpool, according to reports yesterday, with an offer in the process of being made to the club 's US co-owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

Initially it was thought that DIC, bankrolled by Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, were interested in buying Hicks' 50 per cent share. However, it is claimed DIC are now set to make an offer for the complete buy-out of the American pair.

DIC were close to their own takeover of the Anfield club 12 months ago before the Reds ' then chairman, David Moores, decided to go with the American investors instead. On Thursday a spokesman for Hicks insisted neither of the owners was considering selling their share and both remained fully committed to the club.

Gillett and Hicks ' reign, however, has caused turmoil on and off the pitch, and DIC have maintained their interest in becoming involved, despite the previous deal 's collapse.

Hicks has been heavily criticised by fans following disagreements with the manager, Rafael Benitez, and for his admission that talks were held with Jürgen Klinsmann about taking over as manager. The US businessmen are trying to finalise the terms of a £350m loan that would enable them to repay money borrowed for the £218.9m takeover, repay loans used to sign players, and enable work to commence on a re-scaled plan for a new stadium in Stanley Park.

Meanwhile, Martin Skrtel could get his first taste of the Anfield atmosphere, as Liverpool prepare to face Aston Villa tomorrow.

The Midlands side are in the heart of the pack trying to take fourth place from Liverpool, and the visit of Martin O 'Neill 's emerging side could be pivotal to the troubled Anfield club 's season. And Liverpool 's only acquisition in the current transfer window – the Slovakia defender Skrtel – has proved his fitness sufficiently to be considered. Benitez, who has been impressed with Skrtel 's first week at the club, said: "I am really pleased with him and am thinking about using him now. He can be available against Villa, in the FA Cup next weekend or maybe in the reserve game against Wigan on Tuesday. But he is certainly one of the options for the Villa game on Monday."

The FA Cup fourth-round home tie with non-League Havant and Waterlooville would be a more gentle introduction for the Slovak, but with Daniel Agger again out with a recurrence of his metatarsal injury, Skrtel could well find himself on the bench against Villa, at least.

A £6.5m signing from Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg, he had not trained for a fortnight ahead of his move to Anfield and had not played for a month. But he has since been put through his paces by Benitez's fitness staff and is keen to make an impact, saying: "To be the first Slovak to play for Liverpool makes me very happy. Not many Slovakian players have had the opportunity to play in the English League.

"I will give it everything to succeed here. I can't wait to play at Anfield. The stadium is beautiful and Liverpool have got the best supporters in England, if not the world."

Skrtel avoided the now customary boast at his unveiling that he had always supported the Reds. However, he revealed he is all too aware of goings on at Anfield over the last few years.

"I know about the great history of Liverpool and the tradition," he said. "Watching the Champions' League final when Liverpool played Milan in Istanbul left a big impressionon me.

"That type of game doesn't happen every day. I watched it on the television and I thought at half-time, 'that's it'. What happened in the second half was absolutely unbelievable."

Skrtel also arrived with the high praise of Benitez who has compared his style to Jamie Carragher – a plaudit the player is very happy to accept.

"I obviously knew about Jamie before I came here," said Skrtel. "He is a very good player and it's a compliment for me to be compared to him. The manager has told me he will give me time to improve my fitness and fit in and I know about how tough the competition for places is here.

"That is a good thing for a club to have and I will give it my very best. I will be working as hard as I can so I can get into the squad and I will also try to learn to speak English as soon as possible."

Peter Crouch, meanwhile, has reiterated that he is happy at Anfield. "Everyone talks about me talking to clubs," he said. "Maybe it's because I'm not playing every game but at a club like Liverpool you're not going to play every game. I've come to realise that this is the case at a club like this."