Thais set Reds deadline

Profile: Thaksin Shinawatra

Thai negotiators have set a three-day deadline to wrap up a deal to buy a 30% stake in Liverpool.

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has emerged as the sole bidder for Liverpool after Steve Morgan withdrew from the running on Friday.

"We're trying to finish it (the deal) by Wednesday, whether we buy it or not, it must end by then," said Thaksin.

Negotiations over the £60m deal for a 30% stake of Liverpool have stalled over Thai representation on the board.

The Thais want two seats on the Liverpool board, while the club are offering only one, according to Thai newspapers.

Houllier to leave Liverpool

Thai officials flew to England on Sunday for talks with Liverpool, who are set to confirm the departure of manager Gerard Houllier, and to assess other clubs if their bid fails.

"Surely we have many choices in buying other football clubs. We are working. Our team will be going," added Thaksin.

Liverpool are 51% owned by chairman David Moores, whose family has had control for half a century, and 9.9 percent owned by television company Granada.

Thaksin has said Moores' holding would drop to around 35 percent if the deal went ahead.

Thaksin has said the Thai offer would inject 45 million pounds ($80.7 million) into the club, which needs investment to buy players and help fund the construction of a bigger stadium.

The rest will go to buy shares from existing shareholders.