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FSG are leaning towards a PARTIAL sale of Liverpool rather than a full takeover

  /  autty

Liverpool's owners Fenway Sports Group are considering a partial sale of Liverpool rather than a full takeover of the club.

It was revealed last month that the American owners have put the Reds on the market for £2.7billion and the Mail of Sunday learned that representatives of consortiums from Saudi Arabia and Qatar have expressed an interest in buying the club.

Boston Globe have reported that FSG - who also own baseball giants the Boston Red Sox - are involved in discussions with a wide array of suitors who are either interested in buying all or part of Liverpool.

It's said that a partial sale of the club is seen as a more likely outcome for the Reds, and that the owners could link up with another partner based in North America.

New investors would be able to raise funds for new signings to help Jurgen Klopp's side keep pace with their rivals in the Premier League.

One suggestion is that a minority partner could link up with FSG and then turn their position into one of complete control further down the line.

The Boston Globe state that any investor 'would need to be philosophically aligned with FSG's fiscal tenets and team-building philosophies'.

It's also claimed while FSG remain open to offers of a full takeover they have not yet received compelling interest.

A full sale of the club would see FSG's ownership of the club to an end -12 years since they bought the Reds.

Investment banks Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley have been enlisted by FSG to assist in the process of finding a party who would either be prepared to pump money for a percentage - or buy Liverpool outright.

FSG paid £300m for Liverpool when they bought the club - who were then on the brink of administration after failed Tom Hicks-George Gillet regime - in October 2010 but it is estimated they could achieve anything up towards £4billion if they cash in now.

In a statement, FSG 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.'

Saudi Arabia's Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal recently encouraged takeover bids for both Liverpool and Manchester United.

Both clubs have been exploring potential sales options over the past month.

He said: 'From the private sector, I can't speak on their behalf, but there is a lot of interest and appetite and there's a lot of passion about football.

'We will definitely support it if any [Saudi] private sector comes in, because we know that's going to reflect positively on sports within the kingdom.'

The kingdom's state-backed Public Investment Fund (PIF) have already acquired Newcastle United.

Liverpool are also in discussions with a US-based buyer, while Britain's richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe and tech-giants Apple have been linked with United bids.

Related: Liverpool