Jackson in talks for three-month tour

Michael Jackson is reportedly in talks to embark on a three-month tour to pay off his £162.5 million debts.

The singer is understood to have met promoters AEG Live to discuss a possible tour from March to May next year.

US columnist Roger Friedman claimed that the profits of the shows will help Jackson get out of financial trouble, saying: "He is so deeply in debt and at such a crisis point in his finances that he and [publicist Raymone] Bain may be using potential proceeds from a tour as leverage for refinancing his $325 million in loans."

He added: "The refinancing was due on December 1. Not only did it not happen, but Jackson is now in default on $300 million secured by his Neverland Ranch."

It was reported in October that Jackson would lose the property within 90 days if he did not pay back a $23 million loan. However, Bain later denied the claims, insisting that Jackson had refinanced the loan in 2006 and was in the process of doing so again.

Jackson and his four brothers are scheduled to play a Jackson Five reunion show in Atlanta on New Year's Eve.