Liverpool may have to wait before finding their new owners because heavyweight investors will go for Manchester United first, according to Gary Neville.
Both north west footballing giants have been put up for sale by their respective American owners in the past few weeks, as United and Liverpool look to keep pace with Premier League standard-setters Manchester City.
But while Saudia Arabia sports minister Prince Abdulaziz has claimed in an interview with Sky Sports that his country intends to buy the Merseyside Reds, former Manchester United defender Neville is of the firm belief that billionaire sport investors will be looking at his former club first before turning their attention to Liverpool as a second option.
READ MORE: Gary Neville was right about Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold and it raises awkward question
READ MORE: Liverpool told they would be 'good partner' to sign €50m forward starring at World Cup
Speaking to Sky Sports, Neville said: "I don't want to be disrespectful to Liverpool at all because they're a massive football club. When you look at the height of English football when it comes to viewing figures, fans, and commercial revenues - it's Manchester United and Liverpool at the very top.
"Forget the fact that Manchester City at this moment in time create a higher revenue. Naturally through traditional means, Manchester United and Liverpool are the two biggest clubs in the country by a mile.
"Manchester United will be more sought after and will fetch a higher price than Liverpool. Unless Liverpool have got something sorted, I think they're going to have to wait a little bit because I think the buyers will go to Manchester United first - unless there's a Liverpool fan who is very wealthy somewhere and has an allegiance to Liverpool.
"But I think if you were looking at both, as an asset side by side, you'd choose Manchester United and that's not me being biased as a Manchester United fan. Liverpool are in a better position on and off the pitch at the moment, but you cannot deny the scale of Manchester United. When you look at commercial revenues, Manchester United as an asset are a better buy.
"I think the owner will think if Manchester United get it right on and off the pitch and Liverpool get it right on and off the pitch, Manchester United will be bigger."
Liverpool's owners Fenway Sports Group are understood to be looking to achieve a figure somewhere between £3-4billion to let go of their asset, while United owners, the Glazer family, are reportedly looking for as much as £7billion to sell the club.
But not everyone agrees with Neville's brutal assessment. Professional jockey Neil Callan Tweeted: "I wonder does @GNev2 get paid extra bonuses to talk as much rubbish as he has being doing lately," tagging in Neville's Sky Sports colleague and former Liverpool player Jamie Carragher.
Neville responded: "Genuinely interested in how you think this statement isn’t 100% true. Even your mate you’ve tagged in isn’t so naïve to think Liverpool is more valuable than United!"
READ NEXT:
- 'I never thought I was going to be a Liverpool player' - brutally honest youngster explains exit and reality facing Academy hopefuls
- Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk issues scathing response to Marco van Basten 'failing' criticism
- Liverpool can take one major positive from narrow mini-derby defeat at Everton
- Jordan Henderson admits World Cup disappointment for Liverpool team-mate
- What Liverpool fans did that triggered Jurgen Klopp 'rage' in front of FSG and Steven Gerrard
