Liverpool Football Club is for sale, according to reports by the New York Post. The American newspaper states owner John W. Henry is ready to cash-in on the famed English football club for around £1.5 billion. According to the New York Post, Henry has “quietly signalled” he is ready to sell the club to whoever pays the large fee.
It is claimed Henry and Fenway Sports Group are running a “passive sales” campaign. The group isn’t actively selling and pursuing a sale, but won’t flat out refuse to negotiate if someone enquires about purchasing the Reds.
A New York Post reporter was quoted as saying Liverpool are for sale “for the right price”.
These are not the first stories of Liverpool being up for grabs if Henry receives a price believed to be fair. In 2016, an unnamed Chinese consortium had been linked with buying the Anfield outfit. Earlier this year, Manchester City owner Sheik Mansour’s cousin had allegedly bid £2bn to purchase the club.
Despite several reports that the club is up for sale, FSG has continued to deny they are willing to sell.
FSG saw success in the sports world in October as the Boston Red Sox, Major League Baseball’s best team during the 162 game season, won the World Series. However, the New York Post states the Red Sox lost money despite winning the title.
In August, it was reported by MassLive.com that the Red Sox payroll had exceeded $237 million (£182m) for the 2018 MLB season. While the Red Sox lost money, there are no direct links to the financial loss and the selling of Liverpool at the moment.
FSG purchased Liverpool in October 2010 from Tom Hicks and George Gillett. The purchase saw the club’s two highly disliked former owners ushered to the exit. Since taking over, FSG has spent heavily to improve the Liverpool squad. However, it isn’t just the team FSG has spent money on. Anfield has been redeveloped and brought more into the modern era through the owner’s investment.
While Hicks and Gillett were eager to sit back and watch the money roll in, FSG has improved the club on numerous levels. There is also a link between the Red Sox and Liverpool through the ownership group that is very fitting.
If new owners do take over for FSG, will Liverpool supporters willingly accept them? Regardless of the amount of money said to be in a possible new owner’s bank account, supporters need to remember what happened previously at Anfield. There is a precedent for an ownership nightmare.
Will FSG sell Liverpool Football Club?