Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel could be forced out of Liverpool unless the club can prove they can repay a huge loan that they took out in order to help secure the transfers of the duo.
In an unusual move, the Anfield-based outfit borrowed money to sign Torres from Atletico de Madrid and then refinanced that debt in January, at the same time as they obtained a refinancing package of £350 million (€442m).
According to The Times, the smaller refinancing package helped buy Ryan Babel from Ajax and was an 18-month agreement with interest of nine percent, equating to around £2.8 million a year (€3.5m).
A letter of credit was signed whereby Liverpool agreed to pay that fee back at the end of the period, but should the club be unable to do so then banks could force them to sell the two players that they bought with the money.
Premier League clubs usually do deals that are funded by the huge television income in England and the Reds are playing a dangerous game already as the £350 million loan is set to cost them £30 million (€38m) per year in interest alone.
The news comes at a time when Liverpool are being rocked by the continuous public disagreements between the club's two American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett. The pair are at loggerheads with both describing their relationship as unworkable and that has meant that any forward planning has been stopped while their differences are sorted out.
On the pitch, Rafa BenÃtez is managing to keep the club on a track as they have qualified for the Champions League semi finals and look set to finish in the top four of the Premier League.
In an unusual move, the Anfield-based outfit borrowed money to sign Torres from Atletico de Madrid and then refinanced that debt in January, at the same time as they obtained a refinancing package of £350 million (€442m).
According to The Times, the smaller refinancing package helped buy Ryan Babel from Ajax and was an 18-month agreement with interest of nine percent, equating to around £2.8 million a year (€3.5m).
A letter of credit was signed whereby Liverpool agreed to pay that fee back at the end of the period, but should the club be unable to do so then banks could force them to sell the two players that they bought with the money.
Premier League clubs usually do deals that are funded by the huge television income in England and the Reds are playing a dangerous game already as the £350 million loan is set to cost them £30 million (€38m) per year in interest alone.
The news comes at a time when Liverpool are being rocked by the continuous public disagreements between the club's two American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett. The pair are at loggerheads with both describing their relationship as unworkable and that has meant that any forward planning has been stopped while their differences are sorted out.
On the pitch, Rafa BenÃtez is managing to keep the club on a track as they have qualified for the Champions League semi finals and look set to finish in the top four of the Premier League.
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