Reports this weekend deny speculation that the Dubai-based investment group consistently linked with purchasing Liverpool Football Club from American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have called off all interest.

Sheikh Hamdan Al-Maktoum has recently been in London regarding the takeover of Charlton Athletic, but sources in Sunday’s Guardian says this makes no difference on their interest in Liverpool.

The newspaper quotes a source as saying:

‘Nothing has changed. The Maktoums still intend to takeover Liverpool and the possible purchase of Charlton certainly has no bearing on it.”

The report states:

Liverpool could still end up in the hands of Dubai’s ruling family regardless of their proposed takeover of Charlton. Dubai remains intent on buying Liverpool whenever the club’s current owners are prepared to sell. Tom Hicks and George Gillett rejected an offer in the region of £500m earlier this year, but remain under pressure to fund the debt with which they purchased the club and to obtain finance for a new stadium.