Just a few months after Chelsea were sold to Todd Boehly's consortium, fellow Premier League big hitters Man Utd and Liverpool could be about to change hands.
Fenway Sports Group have owned Liverpool for more than a decade, agreeing a deal to buy the club back in 2010. Their time could soon come to an end, though, with a statement revealing they are inviting offers for the 2019-20 Premier League champions.
The Glazer family have owned Manchester United for even longer, first investing in the club in the early 2000s and completing their takeover in 2005. However, they too have announced their club is up for sale.
But how, exactly, do the statements from the Liverpool and Man Utd owners compare? Mirror Football has taken a closer look.
FSG
“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," the Reds owners' statement begins.
“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.”
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The statement begins with an acknowledgement of questions about the ownership of the club, stressing that the response wasn't completely unprompted. It also recognises the level of interest in the club over time, and the "expressions of interest" are hardly surprising given Liverpool's recent success.
It also reiterates the commitment to the success of the Reds, which is notable at a time of recent change for the club. Sporting director Michael Edwards and star forward Sadio Mane have both left the club in 2022, while a slow start to the Premier League season has left Jurgen Klopp's side playing catch-up in the top four chase.
The "off the pitch" element of the statement is also significant in the light of recent Anfield developments. The Reds have moved to a new multi-million pound training facility, while their home stadium has undergone significant investment.
The Glazers
"Manchester United plc, one of the most successful and historic sports clubs in the world, announces today that the Company’s Board of Directors is commencing a process to explore strategic alternatives for the club," United's statement to the New York Stock Exchange began. "The process is designed to enhance the club's future growth, with the ultimate goal of positioning the club to capitalise on opportunities both on the pitch and commercially.
"As part of this process, the Board will consider all strategic alternatives, including new investment into the club, a sale, or other transactions involving the Company. This will include an assessment of several initiatives to strengthen the club, including stadium and infrastructure redevelopment, and expansion of the club’s commercial operations on a global scale, each in the context of enhancing the long-term success of the club’s men’s, women’s and academy teams, and bringing benefits to fans and other stakeholders."
United's owners made reference to the club's historic success, while also recognising the value of opportunities on and off the pitch. However, unlike their Liverpool counterparts, there was a specific reference to commercial matters.
In recent years, the club have received criticism from some fans for valuing commercial deals while results on the pitch have been less impressive. United have not won a major trophy since 2017, when they beat Ajax in the Europa League final, and finished last season outside the top four in the Premier League.
While Liverpool's statement makes reference to past interest, United's suggests the owners themselves are initiating the current process. This might explain the greater specifics covered in their statement, with direct references to the women's and academy sides as well as the men's senior team.
"There can be no assurance that the review being undertaken will result in any transaction involving the Company," United's statement added. It could be the case that neither club changes hands - at least not imminently - but the respective statements do at least give a guide to how the owners see their own stance and the future of the clubs under their control.
