Tom Hicks: We did try to line up Jurgen Klinsmann for Liverpool

Jan 14 2008

Rafa Benitez

TOM Hicks and George Gillett held a secret meeting with Jurgen Klinsmann to line him up as the next manager of Liverpool FC.

Hicks today insisted the talks would not have resulted in the immediate dismissal of Rafael Benitez and that Klinsmann was only ” an insurance policy.”

He said: “We attempted to negotiate an option, as an insurance policy, to have him become manager if Rafa left for Real Madrid or other clubs that were rumoured in the UK press.

“Or in case our communication spiralled out of control for some reason.”

The owners also revealed:

• Had Liverpool crashed out of the Champions League the club’s owners would have tried to replace Benitez.

• A deal was almost agreed for Dubai International Capital to buy a minority share in the club in the autumn, only for talks to collapse over the valuation of the club.

Hicks is hopeful for a financial restructure and that plans for the new stadium will be released by the end of this week.

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