Arsenal attract interest of Dubai-based businessman

Arsenal have been targeted for a buyout by an Arab investment magnate who previously missed out on a possible takeover of Liverpool FC.

كتب : Omar AbdelAziz

الإثنين، 11 يونيو 2007 - 16:39

After playing part in the Liverpool bid, Al-Hashimi wants a piece of Arsenal

Arsenal have been targeted for a buyout by an Arab investment magnate who previously missed out on a possible takeover of Liverpool FC, the Sun newspaper reported on Monday.

Mohamed Al-Hashimi, who is the current executive chairman of Zabeel Investments in Dubai, voiced his interest in the London-based club.

"I know the owners are very reluctant to sell but I see Arsenal as a very profitable club," Al-Hashimi told The Sun on Monday.

Al-Hashimi had convinced multi-billionaire and UAE vice-president Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashed Al Maktoum to make the Liverpool bid last December and "was in line to take a 20 per cent share" of the Reds.

Al Maktoum cashed in an $885 million bid for the Reds, but his offer was narrowly beaten by a $925 million bid from American duo George Gillet and Tom Hicks.

Despite failing to complete the Liverpool buyout, Al-Hashimi still has further ambitions to retry the mission in the Premiership.

"Liverpool was an opportunity which does not come along every day but we have to move on."

Arsenal are already poised for a possible buyout by American tycoon Stan Kroenke, whose involvement forced the resignation of vice-chairman David Dein in April.