Liverpool’s American owners have slapped a stunning £1billion price tag on the club after preliminary buy-out talks.

Sunday Mirror Sport can reveal that leading financier Amanda Staveley, who has strong links to billionaires in the Middle East, made initial soundings about the club’s availability on Sunday.

Staveley, who runs PCP Capital Partners, a fund with global assets of more than £28billion.

She was at the 1-1 draw between Newcastle and Liverpool on a fact-finding mission - and has made previous attempts to acquire the Mersey giants.

(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

(Image: AMA/Getty)

The 44-year-old was involved with Dubai investors in takeover attempts in 2007 which were ultimately aborted, and last year her firm made a joint offer for a share of the club with Chinese company Everbright Limited – but it was rejected by the Reds’ current owners, the Fenway Sports Group.

(Image: James Maloney/Liverpool Echo)

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Staveley was instrumental in Sheikh Mansour’s purchase of Manchester City in 2008 and knows that Liverpool is on the radar of the Middle East billionaires anxious to invest in a leading English club.

But Fenway, who bought the club seven years ago for £300m, are looking for a major return on their investment and will only sell for the right price.