Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) have declared that the Merseyside club is for sale. The American conglomerate have prepared sales decks for potential buyers and have handed it over to Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to handle.
FSG took over Liverpool in 2010 when they bought the controlling stake of the club for £300 million. Their tenure has been one of careful planning, which culminated with the employment of Jürgen Klopp in 2015 and the subsequent triumphs that followed.
However, fans have called out their reluctance to invest in the transfer market on a number of occasions, believing that Liverpool would have been more competitive way before Klopp’s era.
There were signs in the days of Brendan Rodgers and the fans bemoaned the club’s lack of investment in the Northern Irishman’s project, which led to its eventual collapse. Some have even called for FSG to leave the club.
Those set of fans will now be getting what they want as the reports claim that the process had begun as early as last month, when the club began talking to potential buyers and investors. Reports also claim that FSG is open to the idea of gaining investors as an alternative to selling off their controlling stake.
The club is set to be sold at over £4 billion thanks to its recent history and achievements. The club’s stature as a whole – Liverpool has the second most titles in England – is also considered in its valuation.
In a statement explaining its decision to sell the club, FSG said: “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.”
Sources have stated that the failed European Super League bid and the £4.25 billion sale of Chelsea in May played a role in getting FSG to put Liverpool up for sale.
However, it is believed that Liverpool will generate better offers than Chelsea, whose sale is broken down into £2.5 billion to former owner Roman Catholic and £1.75 billion investment in the club.
