Kuwaitis aim to reignite deal to buy into Liverpool

A Kuwaiti takeover of Liverpool looks less than imminent, with differences now emerging between members of the original consortium believed to be involved.

Though the Kuwaitis are one of a number of prospective investors whom Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks is seeking to do business with, the Al-Sager family, one of the consortium's members, is now ready to continue talks independently of the wealthy Al-Kharafi family. Hicks and George Gillett, who had hoped that Nasser al-Kharafi – ranked the 52nd richest person in the world – would bankroll a takeover. Hopes now appear to rest with the Al-Sagers.

Abdulla Al-Sager, who is representing his family in the talks, has said discussions with Hicks will continue within the next few weeks. He also made several assertions which seem aimed at limiting damage caused by his claims last week that the Americans' asking price is too high.

Sager said: "They [Hicks and Gillett] are willing to negotiate and we are negotiating and will continue to do so in the weeks to come. We are serious and things can change."

Though Sager sat behind Hicks at Liverpool's home match with Chelsea last month, there is no suggestion that he has been a central figure in discussions. Middle Eastern business culture does not tend to involve executives integral to sale talks speaking publicly about the issue. Sager was quoted last week saying discussions over a sale were going "really badly". However, he told Bloomberg yesterday: "Hicks and his team are nice people and unbelievably humble. We are huge supporters and we definitely want something to happen."

A considerably reduced asking price seems to be necessary before the al-Sager or the al-Kharafi family might be willing to provide the necessary finance and to prevent the Kuwaitis heading off in the same direction as Dubai International Capital, whose £600m offer was rejected by Hicks and George Gillett. The Americans' negotiating position has been changed by the fact that they must repay or refinance £300m of debts in July.

Sager added: "I don't think anything will happen unless we get a better price, but we are still talking."