TalkSport pundit Simon Jordan has claimed FSG don’t want to sell Liverpool right now because Manchester United are also on the market at the same time.
What’s the latest on the Liverpool sale?
In November, investment banks Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley had some involvement in the club which led to speculation that a big change could soon be happening but it seems that was premature.
Indeed, while there had been talk that the Reds could be up for sale, principal owner John W Henry has now confirmed Fenway Sports Group are not looking to sell.
At the same time, Premier League rivals Man United are actually on the market and have received two bids recently, coming from the incredibly wealthy Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani.
While speaking about the latest takeover developments on TalkSport, Jordan claimed that FSG wouldn’t want to have Liverpool on the market at the same time as Man United anyway.
He explained: “I don’t think the timing is right to sell Liverpool when Manchester United are in play. Because that makes you the second story in the financial world of buying football clubs, because Man United will be the top story.
“So you don’t want to be sitting there trying to compete for space and a place on the financial landscape of people potentially wanting to buy your football club when Man United are in play.
“Now, I realised that there will be different buyers and there’s different valuations. But Liverpool will see themselves as an elite legacy football club and not necessarily want to be coming in the shadow at the same time as Man United.”
How did the MUFC takeover affect a potential Liverpool sale?
Last May, Forbes valued Liverpool at $4.45bn (£3.66bn). Only three teams in the world of football are ranked higher than them. Unfortunately, one of these teams is currently up for sale. Indeed, while Real Madrid and Barcelona top the list, Man United are third.
With that in mind, FSG may be wary of putting their club on the market right now when an even higher-profile asset will be taking up plenty of attention for potential buyers.
What’s more, seeing as the Red Devils are currently five places higher than the Reds in the league right now, and have a cup final to play this month, they might well seem like a more attractive proposition for bidders.
Henry and co will no doubt want to sell Liverpool for the highest amount possible but if big spenders are already focussing all their funds on a move for United, it might be best to hold off on any potential sale at this stage and wait until the dust settles before considering putting the club on the market.