Thaksin, a telecoms tycoon before he turned to politics, said he would meet Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry in Bangkok later on Monday to discuss an investment of "more than" four billion baht (56 million pounds).

"If today's negotiations are successful, we'll make an announcement on Friday," Thaksin told reporters.

"If Liverpool's chief executive agrees with our proposals, he'll go back and talk with the club's board. If they are okay, we'll make an announcement."

Thai media reports have said the deal would inject cash into a new stadium at Stanley Park. Liverpool want more seating capacity than they have at their Anfield ground and have even considered a ground-share deal with city rivals Everton.

Thaksin said on Monday a company formed with other Thai private investors to pump money into the club would get commercial rights to use the Liverpool brand, and the premier league team would set up a soccer academy in Thailand.

The Liverpool brand would be used to promote goods produced under a Thai government subsidised scheme to inject life into the country's rural economy, Thaksin said.

The "one village one product" programme, which sells anything from wooden stools to silk cushion covers and spicy cashew nuts made by farming communities, is one of Thaksin's pet projects in a populist agenda that got him elected in 2000. New national elections are due by next year.

"Lots of our products need a brand and Liverpool is one that we can use on the world market," Thaksin said.

"Liverpool is one of the top five teams," he said. "It's an established club with a lot of popularity in Asia."

CHELSEA SPREE

Thaksin's interest in buying into English soccer began last year, soon after Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea.

The Thai PM was linked with Fulham after he met club owner, Mohamed Al Fayed, in London in late 2003 but turned his attention to Liverpool in February.

Liverpool chairman David Moores, whose family has controlled the club for more than half a century, hinted in January he might relinquish some of his 51 percent share.

In March, Liverpool's board turned down a proposal from property developer Steve Morgan to raise his five percent stake in the club via a rights issue. Television company Granada also owns 9.9 percent.

Thaksin, estimated to be worth $1 billion (560 million pounds) by Forbes magazine in 2002, watched the value of his family's holdings soar along with a surging Thai stock market last year.

The family controls Thailand's largest telecom group, Shin Corp, which has interests ranging from television to the Internet.

Liverpool were followed avidly in Thailand during the 1970s and 1980s when they won a string of English and European titles.