Global investment firm the Rhone Group has made a £100million-plus offer for a 40 per cent stake in Liverpool.
Liverpool chief executive Christian Purslow set a deadline of Easter to have secured new finance.
After much speculation over the source of potential investors, Press Association Sport reports the submission from the Rhone Group is the first genuine offer to be received.
If the offer is accepted by Hicks and Gillett it would considerably strengthen the club's financial position.
The people behind the Rhone Group bid have been keen to stress that the offer comes in the form of fresh money - not borrowed - which would immediately be used to slash Liverpool's debt by nearly half.