Liverpool's American owners have concluded a deal re-finance the bank loan they took out to buy the club in 2007.

Co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett are not expected to issue a statement, but the deal is believed to be for another year and will involve them paying back £60m of the original debt.

Negotiations between the Royal Bank of Scotland, Wachovia and the owners have continued for months the worldwide credit crunch has made them tortuous.

There has been real fear that the banks would call in the loan, while both Hicks and Gillett have searched for someone to take a minority stake in the club for around £100m to no avail.

But a source close to the owners has confirmed that the deal has now been concluded, and before last weekend's deadline for re-financing the package expired.

The owners have reduced the £290m they owed to £230m, with £60m being repaid, half immediately.

Hicks, 63, and Gillett, 70, purchased Liverpool in 2007 for £174m, taking on £44.8m of liabilities.

Meanwhile, Andrea Dossena's agent claims the Liverpool defender is eager to sign for Napoli and that the two clubs are in negotiations.

Dossena only moved to Anfield last season from Udinese but has failed to settle in and is likely to find himself even more surplus to requirements following the arrival of Glen Johnson on Merseyside.

The Italy full-back is reportedly keen on a return to Serie A and would welcome a move to Napoli who finished 12th in the league last season.

“We want to close the deal, we will reach an agreement,” Federico Pastorello said yesterday.

“Napoli's offer is five million euros (£4.3million) plus bonuses. It's a deal the two clubs are sorting out, we're waiting for news.”