DALLAS, Feb 2 - Tom Hicks has joined forces with fellow American sports tycoon George Gillett in a bid to buy English Premier League side Liverpool, the Dallas Morning News reported on Friday.

Billionaire Hicks is the owner of the Texas Rangers major league baseball team and the Dallas Stars NHL franchise.

"According to a source, Hicks has agreed to go half-and-half with Gillett on the $450 million purchase of Liverpool Football Club," the newspaper reported.

"Hicks's investment will rival the $250 million he paid for the Rangers when he purchased them in 1998 and dwarf the $84 million he spent on the Stars."

The Daily Telegraph in Britain also said Hicks had entered an agreement with Gillett to try to purchase the club.

Hicks, who has previously had financial interests in South American soccer teams, was not immediately available for comment.

When contacted by Reuters on Friday, a Texas Rangers spokesman declined to comment.

Liverpool's takeover saga has taken several twists in recent days with Dubai International Capital (DIC) group withdrawing their bid on Wednesday when Liverpool asked for more time to consider Gillett's proposal.

The English Premier League club's chief executive Rick Parry told the Liverpool Echo newspaper on Thursday that they had felt bullied by DIC after being given 12 hours to make a decision.

Liverpool are now concentrating on the offer from Gillett, the owner of NHL side Montreal Canadiens.

The Dallas Morning News said Hicks and Gillett were together at last week's NHL All-Star Game where their joint bid for Liverpool may have been finalised.

Dallas-based Hicks and Gillett have previously worked together on the Swift & Company executive board.