The Times says DIC, the private equity investment arm of the Dubai Government, made its bid to buy out Americans Tom Hicks and George Gillett last Wednesday and the offer has so far not been rejected. The bid was made by Amanda Staveley, a senior partner at PCP, a private equity firm, who once briefly dated Prince Andrew.

It's reported Staveley has been acting as an adviser to DIC since it renewed its bid to buy Liverpool, reporting directly to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, and she will be given an influential position in the Anfield boardroom, overseeing the day-to-day running of the club, if the bid is successful.