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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Keifer MacDonald

Saudi-Qatari partnership 'planning' to offer FSG £4bn to buy Liverpool

A joint Saudi-Qatari partnership is "planning" to offer Fenway Sports Group in the excess of £4bn to acquire ownership of Liverpool Football Club, according to reports from the Middle East.

Following information obtained by the Daily Mail last weekend that the Reds' American owners had "held talks" with two Middle-East-based consortiums over a potential takeover of the club, Jordan-based publication Albawaba has claimed that former Saudi Arabia international Saeed Al-Owairan has publicised plans for a possible Saudi-Qatar combined offer for Liverpool.

Speaking on the Egyptian programme Remontada, Albawaba verified that Owairan confirmed the construction of a partnership between the two Middle-Eastern countries. However, no additional details were revealed on how a potential bid for the 19-time league title winners could look.

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Saudi Arabia acquired Premier League side Newcastle United in October of 2021, after a long-standing process was authorised after the county's Public Investment Fund, who now own 80% of the Magpies and back a consortium led by Amanda Staveley, managed to pass the Premier League's Owners' and Directors' Test despite the region's appalling human rights problems.

Meanwhile, the Gulf state of Qatar, who are currently hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, are involved in the ownership of French and Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain through the country's Qatar Sports Investments shareholding organisation.

FSG sent shockwaves around the world in early November as they opened themselves up to a potential part-sale of Liverpool, but also refused to rule out the possibility of a full sale of the asset they purchased for just £300m back in 2010.

And a report in the Boston Globe newspaper, which is owned by John Henry, FSG were said to be considering a part sale of the club to help fund transfers and other investment.

In a statement sent by the ECHO, FSG addressed the reports of a potential, which first broke by The Athletic's David Ornstein, but also reaffirmed their commitment to operations on Merseyside.

"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," read a statement from the American group, led by the principal owner John W. Henry.

"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."

In recent weeks Mike Gordon, who was FSG's most hands-on member at Anfield, had delegated large chunks of his responsibilities to CEO Billy Hogan while he explored prospective parties interested in investing on Merseyside. American banks Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley are assisting with the process.

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