LIVERPOOL FC could be on the brink of being bought by one of Kuwait’s richest families, it emerged last night.

Reports said that current co-owner Tom Hicks – who, along with George Gillett, took over the club in 2007 – is in talks with representatives of the Al Kharafi family, whose fortune is based on construction and a number of holdings in the banking, fast food and tourism sectors. The head, Nasser Al Kharafi, has a net worth of $14bn (£9bn) and is regarded as the 48th richest man in the world.

But the key player in any takeover bid is understood to be his nephew, Rafed Al Kharafi. If the club’s American owners do sell up, the sum is likely to be in excess of £500m.

The news comes almost two years to the day after Hicks and Gillett took control of the club in a £218.9m deal.

Liverpool’s finance director, Phil Nash, travelled to Kuwait this week with a view to securing investment for the club’s new football stadium at Stanley Park, which was put on hold last autumn because of soaring costs due to the economic downturn.

The ultimate aim, however, is believed to be the transfer of ownership of the club.

It is understood that Hicks first made contact with the Al Kharafi family last summer, but the deal broke down when the Kuwaitis walked away without explanation.

It is believed that neither co-owner Gillett, nor LFC chief executive Rick Parry, were consulted about the latest moves by Hicks to secure a new deal with the Al Kharafis.

If the deal goes through, Gillett and Hicks could still continue to hold two smaller investments in the club.

The Al-Kharafi family made their money through construction, engineering and telecommunications. It is led by Nasser, the patriarch, and his brother, Jassim, a politician.