Liverpool to risk bankruptcy?

So despite the encouraging rumours, I certainly feel like we've been here before.

Wealthy businessmen and consortium's interested in buying Liverpool but scuppered by valuation disagreements.The latest man interested is apparently the $19billion Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan who clearly earnt his money playing scrabble on his own name. A 'pro-Westerniser' and half-brother of Sheikh Mansour (the Man City owner), Liverpool could yet become part of a family competition.

However it would seem that Tom Hicks and/or George Gillett are holding out for £800 million (although I've often read this figure in dollars which changes the story altogether) which would ultimately pay off the incredible losses that Hicks has made in taking Texas Rangers to near-bankruptcy. But this is where Tom Hicks likes to play poker.

It is in any buyer's interest to drive the price down as low as possible. To do that, you need Liverpool (or at least the ownership of) to be as unstable as possible. Holding back on any agreement and thereby shifting the power to RBS and Wachovia - who certainly talk a big game - pushes KopHoldings ever closer to defaulting and potential bankruptcy, so don't be surprised if you see scenario this play out this summer.

And the same time, they wouldn't want the club so unstable and unattractive as to make future transfers difficult - the likes of Joe Cole or David Silva not wanting to come to a dodgy club. This all results in a game of cat and mouse, of poker bluffing, and even more uncertainty for Liverpool Football Club.

I believe the star names are waiting for this to be played out, but I will not be surprised if Steven Gerrard grows too impatient and so fearful that he follows Mourinho to Madrid and a holiday away from all the vicious rumours and issues he's been subjected to recently. Gerrard has already changed his mind on retiring at 33, following Mourinho's postiive comments about mid-30s Englishmen, plus he gets to reunite with Xavi Alonso and improve his tan.

Which - if Torres makes a similar decision - would mean that Liverpool are truly bankrupt.