Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett are expected to confirm that they have secured a £350m loan to refinance their takeover and allow work to start on a new 70,000-seat stadium.
The news will be a major setback to Dubai International Capital, the group attempting to buy out the Americans.
It is understood refinancing terms were agreed with the Royal Bank of Scotland and the US investment bank Wachovia last night.
Gillett and Hicks hope the package will end the uncertainty surounding the club in recent weeks and will help them regain favour with Liverpool supporters.
Among the owners first gestures expected to appease angry supporters is the confirmation that the club will complete the £17m signing of Javier Mascherano. The Argentina international is in the final six months of an 18-month loan spell at Anfield but has been attracting interest from Manchester City, Barcelona and Juventus after not receiving a firm offer from Liverpool.
Mascherano has repeatedly asserted that he would welcome a bid from Liverpool and is enjoying his football at the club, recently telling an Argentinian radio station: ” I would love to stay here. I have tried and I’ve adapted to the city very well.”
Momo Sissoko is likely to be sold to Juventus to raise part of the money needed to finance the Mascherano deal.
The RBS and Wachovia loan will enable Hicks and Gillett to repay the £298m they have borrowed over the past 12 months to buy the club, take on existing debts of £44.8m, sign players and commence work on the new stadium.
Of the £350m refinancing package only £105m will be taken on by on Liverpool, with £185m secured on Hicks’s and Gillett’s holding company, Kop Investment. The Americans have increased their personal guarantees from £30m each to about £55m.
