Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group, FSG, have put the Premier League club up for sale.
The owners have put together a full presentation for interested parties, as first reported by The Athletic. The club’s top brass have retained Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to assist with the process of selling the club. Whilst it is inviting offers, it is unclear the level of interest and whether a deal is likely to be done.
Mirror Football reported in April last year that FSG had rejected an offer of almost £3 billion from the Middle East. Premier League rivals Chelsea were recently taken over by the Todd Boehly-led US consortium for a cost of £4.25 billion, a new record in the sport. Forbes value the club at around £3.5 billion at present.
A statement from Fenway Sports Group however refused to state that the Premier League club, as a whole, is on the market.
It reads: “There have been a number of recent changes of ownership and rumours of changes in ownership at EPL clubs and inevitably we are asked regularly about Fenway Sports Group’s ownership in Liverpool.
“FSG has frequently received expressions of interest from third parties seeking to become shareholders in Liverpool. FSG has said before that under the right terms and conditions we would consider new shareholders if it was in the best interests of Liverpool as a club.
“FSG remains fully committed to the success of Liverpool, both on and off the pitch.”
FSG is principally owned by John W. Henry, who was one of two founders alongside chairman Tom Werner. The group sold an 11% stake to RedBird Capital Partners last year for $750 million (£655 million). RedBird recently became majority owner of Italian champions AC Milan too.
Gerry Cardinale, the owner of RedBird Capital Partners, has previously refused to rule out owning Liverpool in a post-FSG future. At a Financial Times’ Business of Sport US Summit in 2021, Cardinale admitted owning Liverpool wasn’t part of the original plan for his private equity firm.
But asked whether he would rule out a future purchase, he offered: “No, I definitely would not exclude it as it would be a privilege but I think that Liverpool is in fantastic hands with the current group.”
“We are there to support and play a supporting role where we can but that is a phenomenal team from ownership and management all the way down.”
FSG took over Liverpool in October 2010, buying the club from controversial American owners George Gillett Jr and Tom Hicks. They have transformed the club during that time, bringing in Jurgen Klopp, winning their first Premier League title as well as numerous other silverware.
They have also transformed Anfield with a new Main Stand and ongoing redevelopment of the Anfield Road Stand, as well as a move from Melwood to a new £50 million Kirkby training facility.
However, their sustainable spending model has drawn some criticism, as well as their involvement in the European Super League breakaway plot which ultimately led to a U-turn and public apology to fans. It’s understood that the collapse of the ESL – FSG were one of the driving forces among the six English clubs involved – and Chelsea’s inflated sale price are major factors in FSG’s desire to test the market.
Source: Mirror
