Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group are interested in selling a minority stake in the club to major media companies.
FSG have been searching for investors since releasing a statement in November which was interpreted as them putting Liverpool up for sale. Last month Liverpool owner John W Henry clarified FSG’s stance, insisting they were not looking for a full sale of the club.
Compared with rivals Manchester United, who are in the midst of a busy sale process, Liverpool have flown under the radar, with FSG proceeding slower than the Glazers. The Telegraph now reports that FSG are exploring the possibility of selling a piece of the club to a media giant.
The newspaper has speculated that Liberty Media could fit the bill due to the company’s ownership of Formula One and Major League Baseball side Atlanta Braves. Liberty purchased F1 from CVC Capital Partners in January 2017 for €4.4 billion (£3.6bn) and may be interested in furthering its portfolio in sport.
Liverpool, FSG and Liberty Media all declined to comment, but Henry said last week that they were continuing to assess their options. "I know there has been a lot of conversation and quotes about LFC, but I keep to the facts: we merely formalized an ongoing process," he told Boston Sports Journal.
"Will we be in England forever? No. Are we selling LFC? No. Are [we] talking with investors about LFC? Yes. Will something happen there? I believe so, but it won't be a sale. Have we sold anything in the past 20 plus years?"
There is precedence for media involvement in Liverpool. The Telegraph notes that broadcaster Granada bought a 9.9 per cent stake of the club for £21m back in 1999.
FSG bought Liverpool for £300m in October 2010 from controversial American owners George Gillett Jr and Tom Hicks. Last May, Forbes valued the club at $4.45billion (£3.66bn), but it seems that FSG are now testing the market to assess their asset’s true value.
Back in April 2021, the group sold an 11 per cent stake to RedBird Capital Partners for $750m (£655m). That decision was taken in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, which had cost the club around £120m in lost revenue.
FSG’s statement from November 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.”
