Liverpool FC's owners have stated that the football club is not for sale - but they will consider proposals from outside investors.
This comes as speculation mounts that a Chinese-backed consortium is preparing to table a big-money proposal to take a substantial stake in the club. The Guardian reports that the Chinese move would value the club at more than €810m.
Sky News reports that its sources say that the investors want to work with the current owner, John W Henry, who also owns the Boston Red Sox - rather than buying the club outright.
The interest is from China Everbright, a financial services conglomerate which is backed by the Chinese State and has a number of properties listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
It is set to work with PCP Capital Partners - an investment company which helped to broker the sale of Manchester City to Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan.
"We’ve said it before and I’d like to say it again: this club is not for sale. If someone wants to write us a letter saying they want to buy the club, then it will get put in the garbage," Tom Werner, club chairman said.
"We actively pursue commercial opportunities, which in turn helps us invest in the squad and win football matches. These commercial discussions can be complex and we’ve said in the past, under the right conditions and absolutely with the right partner, we could look at some small investment stake in the club," he continued.
Chinese businesses have bought Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion, and Wolverhampton Wanderers in recent months.
Fenway Sports Group bought Liverpool for £300m in 2010 - it promised to bring Liverpool back to the top table of English football.
The club finished 2nd in the Premier League in the 2013-14 season - but only reached 8th place last year leaving the team well short of Champions League qualification.
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