Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra says there are issues to be resolved before he can secure a stake in Liverpool amid reports that there may be a rival investor interested in buying into the club.
Thaksin wants to buy 30% from chairman David Moores – although millionaire supporter Steve Morgan has been tipped to make a fresh, £73m bid.
Also, it remains unclear whether Thaksin will be spending his own money or Thailand’s.
“Let’s wait until Thailand buys the team before going into details whether we spend Thais’ money or the private sector’s,” Thaksin said.
Government spokesman Jakrapob Penkairclaimed that a deal had been done after a Thai cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
“We will buy in the name of Thailand,” he said.
“It’s almost 100%. Both sides are confident we will make the announcement. As far as we are concerned, we have finished the process.
“The Thai government is the one that negotiated the deal, not Thaksin and most of the money will come from public funds.”
This statement contradicted one made at the weekend by Pongsak Ruktapongpisal, deputy minister of commerce, who said: “I want to assure you that the money comes from the prime minister himself not from public funds.”
