Reds owners get Dubai ultimatum

Liverpool's owners have been given a £400m take-it-or-leave-it offer from Dubai International Capital to buy the club, BBC Sport understands.

Government-run Dubai investment fund DIC have been in talks with George Gillett and Tom Hicks to buy the club.

BBC 5 Live understands Gillett is willing to sell, but co-owner Hicks is not, but both have to agree to sell for any deal to go through.

DIC has denied the deadline for a decision is by the end of Tuesday.

"I'm told the offer from DIC is £400m," said BBC Radio 5 Live football correspondent Jonathan Legard.

"Mindful of how they were passed over 12 months ago with a previous offer, I understand DIC want an answer fast."

DIC confirmed on Tuesday it had been in talks with American duo Hicks and Gillett about purchasing a stake in the Anfield club.

"It's no secret that we have been in discussions with the current owners," said DIC chief executive Sameer al-Ansari.

"It's not easy because (they) are in dreamland about valuations."

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BBC Sport may understand that but it's been widely refuted. Sadly the standard of sports reporting on the BBC website (and TV for that matter) isn't worth the paper it's printed on.