MX23RW : Monday, May 6 17:30:18| >> :120:14941:14941:

Liverpool 'open talks with Saudi, Qatari consortiums over £3bn takeover'

Liverpool 'open talks with Saudi, Qatari consortiums over £3bn takeover'
© Reuters
Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group reportedly enter talks with Saudi and Qatari-based consortiums over a £3bn takeover.

Liverpool's owners are reportedly in discussions with consortiums based in Qatar and Saudi Arabia over a £3bn takeover.

Earlier this month, it was announced that Fenway Sports Group - spearheaded by principal owner John W Henry - were looking for new investment into the club.

Chairman Tom Werner subsequently confirmed that FSG would consider selling Liverpool in the right circumstances, 12 years after acquiring the club in a £300m deal.

FSG partner Sam Kennedy has revealed that there is "a lot of interest" from potential investors, but there was not reported to have been any concrete talks with buyers until now.

According to the Daily Mail, Saudi and Qatari consortiums are now in talks over a mammoth £3bn takeover, which would see FSG's profit increase tenfold from their 2010 purchase.

General view inside Liverpool's Anfield Stadium before the match on January 9, 2022© Reuters

The report adds that FSG director Mike Gordon has been personally approached by both prospective buyers over a deal, and they are private companies rather than state-owned firms.

However, the pair are also said to possess close links with their country's royal families, and Saudi Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal recently talked up the prospect of a private sector buyer taking over Liverpool or Manchester United, who are also up for sale by the Glazer Family.

"From the private sector, I can't speak on their behalf, but there is a lot of interest and appetite and there's a lot of passion about football," Al-Faisal told BBC Sport. "It's the most-watched league in Saudi and the region and you have a lot of fans of the Premier League.

"We will definitely support it if any [Saudi] private sector comes in, because we know that's going to reflect positively on sports within the kingdom. But if there's an investor willing to do so and the numbers add up, why not."

A Saudi-backed consortium completed a £300m takeover of Newcastle United last year, transforming the Magpies into a club pushing for Champions League qualification as they sit third in the Premier League table.

Newcastle United chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan with part owner Amanda Staveley in the stands before the match on October 17, 2021© Reuters

However, Newcastle's ownership has been overshadowed by allegations of sports washing, as well as criticism of Saudi Arabia's human rights record.

Since FSG took control of Liverpool in 2010, the Reds ended their agonising wait for a Premier League title and have also won the Champions League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup since Jurgen Klopp took charge.

The American firm were blasted for their attempts to join the doomed European Super League last year, though, and fans have also taken aim at Henry for a lack of investment in the transfer market in recent times.

Following the news that FSG were prepared to consider a sale, it was announced that sporting director Julian Ward was to step down from his position at Anfield at the end of the season.

The 41-year-old only took over from Michael Edwards last year but is now believed to want to take a break from football, and a possible sale was reportedly a factor in his decision to leave.

ID:500694:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect6371:

Liverpool takeover - Click here for more stories

Click here for more stories about John W Henry

Click here for more stories about Manchester United

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
General view inside Liverpool's Anfield Stadium before the match on January 9, 2022
Read Next:
Liverpool sporting director Julian Ward 'to step down at end of season'
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal36265588286083
2Manchester CityMan City35257387335482
3Liverpool36239481384378
4Aston Villa36207973532067
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs351861169581160
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle351751378562256
7Chelsea351591170591154
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd34166125251154
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham361310135670-1449
10Bournemouth36139145263-1148
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton351211125357-447
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves36137164960-1146
13Fulham36128165155-444
14Crystal Palace351010154557-1240
15Everton36129153849-1137
16Brentford3699185260-836
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3689194563-1829
18Luton TownLuton3668224978-2926
19Burnley3659223974-3524
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd36372635100-6516


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!