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• Sources insist no talks have taken place with Ambani or Roy
• Pair linked with majority buyout of Merseyside club

Liverpool have denied that there has been any contact with either of the two Indian businessmen linked with buying a 51% stake in the club.

Liverpool sources insisted there had been no contact whatsoever with either Mukesh Ambani or Subrata Roy who, according to The Times, are willing to pay off the club’s £237m debt in return for a majority stake.

Ambani is India’s wealthiest person with a fortune valued at about $20bn. He is the chairman of India’s Reliance Industries and owns the Mumbai Indians cricket team. Roy, chairman of the Sahara Group, which sponsors the India cricket team, is also a billionaire.

As well as Liverpool’s denial, a spokesman for Ambani has also insisted that he is not interested in taking over at Anfield. “There is no truth to the report. We deny it completely,” said Sudeep Purkayastha, from Reliance.

Tushar Pania, also from Reliance, added: “It’s not true. Nothing in it all. Totally untrue.”

Liverpool’s co-owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, have been searching for fresh investment for some time but they are not thought to want to sell more than 50% of the club’s shares.

There is also said to be interest from the United States and from a Saudi Arabian consortium.

LiverpoolBusinessSachin Nakraniguardian.co.uk

• Indian billionaires seeking 51% stake in Anfield club
• Ambani owns IPL cricket team the Mumbai Indians

Two Indian business tycoons were reported last night to be lining up attempts to take control of Liverpool. Mukesh Ambani and Subrata Roy were said to be willing to pay off the club’s £237m debt in return for a 51% stake in the club.

Ambani is India’s wealthiest person with a fortune valued at about $20bn. He is the chairman of India’s Reliance Industries and owns the Mumbai Indians cricket team. Roy, chairman of the Sahara Group, which sponsors the India cricket team, is also a billionaire.

Liverpool’s co-owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, have been searching for fresh investment for some time but they are not thought to want to sell more than 50% of the club’s shares.

They have been seeking investment of £100m for a minority stake in the club. The Americans have been ordered by the Royal Bank of Scotland to reduce Anfield’s debt by £100m before July.

The Times, which reported the interest from the two Indian businessmen, said that Roy’s interest appeared to be the more serious. It reported that Liverpool’s chief executive, Christian Purslow, had denied knowledge of a bid but the paper said the pair had made approaches in November and that discussions had been held.

There is also said to be interest from the United States and from a Saudi Arabian consortium.

Hicks and Gillett are under pressure from supporters to sell. They took over in February 2007 but have not so far delivered on a project designed to deliver a new stadium and have provided the manager, Rafael Benítez, with little in the way of transfer funds for this season. Maxi Rodríguez was the only January signing.

LiverpoolPremier LeagueJon Brodkinguardian.co.uk