Liverpool could be plunged into fresh turmoil amid reports their American owners have suffered a setback in their refinancing plans.

Already destabilised by speculation that George Gillett and Tom Hicks are considering selling the club, reports have emerged that the American duo's plans to refinance their loan have been hit.

The pair are understood to be struggling to secure the loan they require to pay back the original loan with which they bought the club last February.

The Daily Telegraph claims that the 'refinancing deal is on the verge of collapse' while The Times states that 'sources in the City believe that the Americans' regime is crumbling by the day'.

If Hicks and Gillett are thwarted in their plans, then the pair may conclude they have no choice but to sell their club to the Dubai-based Dubai International Capital (DIC) group.

The Daily Telegraph reports "Time is running out for the Americans to conclude the loan agreement".

"Contrary to reports that they had until the end of February to sign the deal, it is now understood their one-year loan with RBS expires in just under two weeks."

Speculation was rife at the weekend that DIC had formally bid £500m for the Anfield club.

However, it is now believed that the offer was informal and only in the region of £300m - prompting Hicks to issue a defiant statement announcing he had no intention of selling his stake.

DIC, however, will not launch a formal offer until they have held talks with RBS but Hicks has refused to grant DIC permission to talk to the bank until any refinancing deal is completed.

Should the refinancing collapse, then DIC - run by Liverpool fan Sameer Al Ansari - would be in a position to move in.