Bill Gates was offered chance to buy Liverpool - but did not reply

Bill Gates was offered the chance to buy Liverpool

Bill Gates, one of the world's richest men, was offered the chance to buy Liverpool - but he did not respond to the overture.

The approach to the co-founder of Microsoft, who is believed to be worth around £70bn, has been revealed in court papers from the ongoing legal battle between Mill Financial, former co-owner George Gillett and the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Two separate approaches were made to Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, who won the Super Bowl on Sunday and both were rebuffed.

George Gillett and Tom Hicks sold Liverpool in 2010

Gillett and co-owner Tom Hicks took over at Anfield in 2007 but agreed to sell in 2010, appointing Barclays Capital to find buyers.

Sir Martin Broughton, Liverpool's chairman at the time, was asked if "there was at least an attempt to contact Bill Gates and Bob Kraft in the US?"

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was approached during the sale of Liverpool

Broughton replied "correct", though he went on to say that the approach was part of a worldwide search for potential owners.

Kraft was originally approached in 2005, and then again in 2010, before Fenway Sports Group eventually bought the Reds.