Parry predicts Liverpool takeover will be finalised 'relatively soon'
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Your support makes all the difference.The Liverpool chief executive, Rick Parry, has confirmed he expects Dubai International Capital to complete its proposed £450m takeover of the club "relatively soon" and to provide the manager, Rafael Benitez, with transfer funds that will deter further interest in his services from Real Madrid.
DIC, the investment arm of the Dubai government, is close to concluding the due diligence process into Anfield's finances that commenced last month, when it was announced that DIC plan to fund a new £200m, 60,000-seater stadium on Stanley Park, pay £170m for majority control from the chairman, David Moores, and take on approximately £80m worth of debt. Liverpool sources have indicated the takeover may officially commence this week and yesterday Parry said no unforeseen problems had materialised.
"A huge amount of work has been going on from both parties," said Parry who, along with Moores, will retain his post following the takeover. "I imagine we'll have something concrete to say relatively soon on that. "They are finalising all the legal work. They have been examining the books and satisfying themselves that everything is fine on that score. There is lot of legal work to do and investigations going on into the funding of the new stadium, which is a very important project for us. It is a case of finalising the due diligence and pulling everything together. It is looking positive and yes, I am confident [it will go through]."
Benitez went public with his frustration at recent transfer problems this week - although deals for Javier Mascherano and Lucas Neill may be closer than the DIC takeover - but Parry insisted the Spaniard would, over time, be given the resources to compete for the Premiership title. "They will help take us to the next level," he added. "Their business model, with the new stadium at the centre, is based on success and that you have to invest to stay at the top."
Liverpool's chief executive also revealed that Benitez had been approached by his former club Real Madrid about a possible return to the Bernabeu last summer, but was talked out of a move by the Anfield hierarchy and their plans for new investment.
"It was pretty serious and for Rafa it was clearly a temptation because Real Madrid is his club. He has been there as a player and coach," Parry said. "It will always be an opportunity he will have to consider, but we sat down for a few hours and talked about the direction the club was taking.
"He believed in the direction we are taking and the way we are going about it. We are all passionate to win trophies and the one we would really love to win is the Premier League."
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