A bid by Thailand's billionaire Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to buy a stake in English premier league club Liverpool is "almost 100 percent" complete, a Thai government spokesman said on Tuesday.
Thaksin's spokesman, Jakrapob Penkair, said an agreement would be announced jointly by the Thai government and Liverpool but he did not give a date.
"It's almost 100 percent," he told reporters. "Both sides are confident we will make the announcement. As far as we are concerned, we have finished the process."
Thaksin, a telecom tycoon before he entered politics, met Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry in Bangkok on Monday and said he wanted to buy a 30 percent stake for "more than" $100 million.
Thaksin suggested the Thai public might pay for at least part of the deal.
"Thailand will buy it first and then we'll discuss later whether the money will come from the people or from the government or the private sector," he told reporters.
Liverpool chairman David Moores, whose family has controlled the club for more than half a century, hinted in January he might relinquish some of his 51 percent share.
Any deal would need to be approved by the Liverpool board.
"The prime minister told the cabinet meeting today that the negotiation was completed yesterday, but we have not announced it because Liverpool needs to go through a few more steps before it can make a formal announcement," Jakrapob said.
Thaksin, estimated by Forbes to be worth $1.4 billion, has said the deal would inject cash into a new stadium.
Liverpool want more seating than at their 45,000-capacity Anfield ground and even considered a ground-share deal with city rivals Everton.
