Liverpool chairman Tom Werner has confirmed Fenway Sports Group (FSG) are looking to sell the club - but insisted there is "no urgency" to do so.
It emerged earlier this month that the American owners of the Anfield side are keen to sell and have put together a full presentation for interested parties. They have retained Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to assist with the process of selling as they gauge interest and invite offers.
Werner, co-founder of FSG alongside John W Henry and chairman of Liverpool, has now offered an update on the process in his first public comment on the situation. Werner told The Boston Globe: "We’re exploring a sale, but there’s no urgency, no time frame for us, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s business as usual. One outcome could be our continued stewardship for quite a while."
Werner's update comes after FSG partner Sam Kennedy told The Boston Globe there has been a "lot of interest" in investing in the Reds. Kennedy said this week: "There has been a lot of interest from numerous potential partners considering investment into the club. It is early days in terms of exploring possibilities for possible investment into Liverpool."
Whilst the possibility of a full sale is being explored, FSG are also understood to be open to minority investment and they refused to state that the club as a whole was on the market when news broke earlier this month.
A statement on November 7 read: “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.”
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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 for $750m (£655m). RedBird recently became majority owners of Italian champions AC Milan too.
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 £50m 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.
