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LONDON. — Liverpool could become the latest English Premier League football club under Middle Eastern ownership after owners Fenway Sports Group put them up for sale.
US billionaire businessman John Henry wants £4 billion to sell the Anfield club.
That would represent a 1 200 per cent mark-up on the £300 million he paid to buy out previous American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett in 2010.
And it raises the prospect of Liverpool joining Abu Dhabi-owned Manchester City and Saudi-run Newcastle in being owned by the oil bounty of the Gulf.
Henry will expect considerably more than the £2.5 billion paid by fellow American Todd Boehly when he bought out Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea stake in the summer.
Britain’s richest man Jim Ratcliffe could afford to buy the club.
He made a bid for Chelsea, but his allegiance is to Liverpool rivals Manchester United, so an offer is less likely.
But the news Henry and partner Tom Werner are ready to sell up will leave many Liverpool fans hoping for a new sugar daddy owner who will give manager Jurgen Klopp a budget to compete for the world’s best players.
FSG has asked US financial giants Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to produce a “sales deck”, outlining the costs and benefits for buyers.
In a statement which effectively confirmed a sale is feasible, the owners said: “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 committed to the success of Liverpool, both on and off the field.”
Since taking over the club 12 years ago, FSG has overseen a substantial rebuild of Anfield including a new main stand. — The Sun
Online Reporter