Hicks, Gillett Reportedly Looking To Sell EPL Club Liverpool

Liverpool co-Owners Tom Hicks, George Gillett Reportedly Hire Merrill Lynch To Broker Sale

SELLING POINT: In London, James Mason reported Spanish La Liga club Real Mallorca has brought a US$19.1M compensation claim against EPL club Newcastle United, and Newcastle Owner Mike Ashley's attempts to sell the club "at a profit may be further hampered." A court hearing will rule on "whether Newcastle owe" Mallorca a fee for MF Jonas Gutierrez, who transfered to Newcastle in July. FIFA "backed Newcastle's stance in the face of initial protest from Mallorca." Mallorca Owner Paul Davidson said, "We don't want a war with Newcastle, but they need to understand that it's impossible to do business this way. This has hurt us on the pitch and financially." Meanwhile, Mason noted while Seymour Pierce Chair Keith Harris, whose company has been charged with brokering a sale of Newcastle, "remains upbeat about the chances of reaching agreement with one of the seven parties harbouring 'serious interest' in Newcastle, a Nigerian consortium he has all but written off as credible bidders could yet be the first to make a firm offer for the club" (London TELEGRAPH, 10/19).

THE ITALIAN JOB: Italian Serie A club AC Milan VP Adriano Galliani said that Galaxy MF David Beckham in January "will join AC Milan on loan." Galliani said of Beckham: "We are speaking with his agent but we believe he will arrive for some months on a free loan." Galliani admitted that Beckham's "commercial value has persuaded Milan to pursue the deal." Galliani: "Football today is not just about tactics and technical abilities. It's about full stadiums and sponsors" (LONDON TIMES, 10/22).

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