owner of Liverpool, Fenway Sports Group, appointed two major investment banks to attract new investment and establish how much potential buyers would pay for the club. FSG have enlisted Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley in a sell presentation for Liverpool, raising the possibility that his 12-year tenure at Anfield is coming to an end.
The Boston-based company, however, has no immediate plans to sell a majority stake in liverpool and views the move as an exploratory step at this point.
FSG have been open to outside investment for a number of years and have confirmed they would sell a stake “if it is in Liverpool’s best interests as a club”. Liverpool owner wants to test the market after the recent sale of Chelsea for £4.3bn to a consortium led by US billionaire Todd Boehly. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley will lead the process of sounding out potential investors and valuing the Premier League club. It remains to be seen where the research will lead.
In a statement on Monday, FSG confirmed: “There have been a number of recent ownership changes and rumors of ownership changes at EPL clubs and inevitably we are regularly asked about the ownership of Fenway Sports Group at Liverpool. .
“FSG has frequently received expressions of interest from third parties wishing to become shareholders of Liverpool.
“FSG have already stated that, given the right conditions, we would consider new shareholders if it is in the interest of Liverpool as a club. FSG remains fully committed to the success of Liverpool, both on and off. ground. “
Since buying Liverpool for £300million in 2010, the owner has overseen on-field success under Jürgen Klopp, the redevelopment of two stands at Anfield stadium and the construction of a new training complex for £50m to Kirkby. A new £80million stand on Anfield Road, which will increase the stadium’s capacity to over 61,000, is set to be completed in time for the start of next season.
In March 2021, FSG sold a 10% stake in the entire company, including Boston Red Sox baseball team and Nascar team RFK Racing, to RedBird Capital Partners for £543 million. sterling. This has allowed the company to absorb the impact of the pandemic, but they are looking to invest more in Liverpool to be able to compete with clubs like Manchester City.
Klopp has a close personal and working relationship with FSG chairman Mike Gordon and signed a third contract extension to Liverpool just seven months ago, committing his future at the club until 2026. Liverpool chairman Tom Werner insisted the FSG continue to view the club as a ‘long-term project’ only in May.
The FSG agreed to the creation of a supporters’ council in Liverpool following their ill-fated bid to join a Super League, providing supporters with representation at board and management level. The Spirit of Shankly supporters’ union, which is represented on the supporters’ council, has called on FSG to clarify its intentions for Liverpool and engage them in any possible sale.
SOS said in a statement: “We have seen reports today that FSG have put Liverpool FC up for sale. Spirit of Shankly have written to LFC for clarification and will await a response before commenting. However , we expect the Council of Supporters and SOS to be involved in part of the process so that supporters are at the center of any sale and the first thoughts of potential owners.
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