Billionaire Steve Ballmer has no interest in adding Liverpool to his list of assets, according to reports in America.
The former Microsoft CEO has been the latest man linked with the Premier League giants, who are now on the market as FSG look to sell up. Liverpool's massive rise in the past decade, both on the pitch and commercially, means few suitors could afford to buy the Anfield outfit.
Chelsea recently sold for £4bn, a figure that Liverpool 's current owners at least want to match. Ballmer, who made his fortune from his stock options in Microsoft, where he was CEO for 12 years, has the capital to make a bid for Liverpool, but is thought to be content with his current sporting portfolio.
A Los Angeles Times reporter quizzed Ballmer on the possibility and said on Twitter : "When I sat down with Ballmer recently and asked if he would be interested in buying any other sports franchises he said no. And it was a definitive no. He said he already spends enough time focused on the Clippers and now building a new arena for them. Said he's not interested in devoting time to another team."
Ballmer is heavily invested in the Los Angeles-based NBA outfit, who have made the play-offs in three of the past four seasons. His investment in a new home for the team also prohibits how much time he can devote to other projects, with Liverpool potentially needing a lot of attention over the coming years.
Jurgen Klopp's team have dropped off this season and major funds need to be spent on several areas of the squad. One individual who could provide those is Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, another man to be touted as a possible buyer. Those close to him have however stated that a bid is unlikely, according to the ECHO.
Have FSG been good owners at Liverpool? Tell us what you think here.
Liverpool's chairman Tom Werner has stated that, whilst John W Henry is looking to offload the club, there is no timeline for finding a buyer. He 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."
Under FSG the Reds have become one of England's - and Europe's - leading outfits. Their role in the attempted Super League caused a divide between them and fans, with Henry himself issuing an apology, but they have been praised for the work they've done over the past decade.
They presided over the first Premier League title win - ending a thirty year wait for top flight success. They've also seen the Champions League be won, all whilst running the club in a sustainable way that has seen them spend largely within their means.
