Liverpool could be the next club to receive a major financial injection from Qatar, according to a report.
Arab-based TV station Al Jazeera is said to be claiming that the Reds are in talks with Ooredoo - a major telecommunications company in the Arab state - over becoming their new shirt sponsors and, perhaps controversially, buying naming rights to Anfield.
The story apparently quotes an Ooredoo director, who explains why they want to be in business with Liverpool.
“The goal was to sponsor a big English club with a huge history, our search included Arsenal and Manchester United but the former two have long sponsorship deals and the same applies to Manchester City, so Liverpool is the only club available right now," he reportedly said.
"We want to sponsor the club in full. We want to sponsor the stadium as well as the club's kits.
"Our goal is to reach the Asian markets, where the Premier League has an enormous fan base.
"We received the tender from the club a few days ago and we are currently in the process of due diligence and we are studying each aspect of the study.
"It is a dual interest, Liverpool needs the money to compete with the European heavyweights and we want to expand our brand to reach new markets via football."
Liverpool are trying to regain their once-traditional place among English football's best under their new American owners, but have not played in the Champions League since the 2009-10 season and face missing out on Europe entirely for next season.
Last month, it was reported that Liverpool were negotiating with current shirt sponsors, bankers Standard Chartered, over extending a £20million-a-year deal that expires next year.
Spanish giants Barcelona already have Qatari shirt sponsors, and Qatari money has helped take another La Liga side, Malaga, and France's Paris Saint-Germain to the last eight of the Champions League.
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