FSG are reportedly selling Liverpool FC in shock news on Monday. Here are three possible reasons they’re looking in that direction.
The Athletic reports that FSG are selling Liverpool. Or at least, they appear open to the idea. While the report claims a full-blow sale, a statement from FSG makes it sound more like an openness to selling a stake in the club.
It’s always possible that they’re merely covering their bases with that claim, though. After all, failure to sell after admitting you’re looking to sell would look disastrous. What we know for sure is that FSG are looking to move away from being the ultimate power at the club
That’s a massive move and one that will redefine the future of Liverpool. So why are they looking to do it? Here are three possible reasons FSG are looking to sell.
FSG are selling Liverpool
1. The Super League
The collapse of the Super League last year was massive. FSG were on board with the idea as the majority of Europe’s top clubs attempted to fence-off elite-level football for themselves.
The plan would have been unbelievably lucrative. As we wrote at the time, such a league would guarantee money for owners as US sports do. The lack of relegation or even proper failure sees the value of clubs skyrocket – no wonder FSG loved the idea.
But that now won’t happen, or at least won’t happen without one hell of a fight. The Supporters’ board at Liverpool makes it incredibly difficult to get the club involved, too.
Thus what might have been FSG’s ultimate plan is now out of the window. With that, cashing in while the Reds are in their most successful period for 30 years makes sense.
2. Here comes the rebuild
It’s abundantly clear that Liverpool will require quite a bit of investment over the next few years. Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, Jordan Henderson, Thiago, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah are all past 30 now. You can argue that Matip is the only one with a guaranteed replacement, too, in Ibrahima Konaté.
Thus money needs spending. Liverpool will need to invest over the next few windows in order to keep up at the top – and that’s going to worry any ownership.
Selling before that rebuild is, again, the sensible move from FSG. While they may be ‘committed to the long-term success’ as per their statement, they’d rather not be the ones funding it – if they can help that.
3. Jurgen Klopp
Jurgen Klopp’s contract runs until 2026, meaning he’ll have roughly three years left on his deal if a sale went through last year. Add in potentially another year for said rebuild and Klopp may only have two more years at Liverpool to make use of.
That will scare FSG. The German has essentially been the reason their entire strategy worked over the last seven years. Without Klopp at the club, Liverpool aren’t as bright a prospect and an awful lot of unknowns creep into any sale.
But now? FSG could sell Liverpool with Klopp at the helm. Anyone happy to do the rebuild gets the boss to do it with, even if only for two or three years. Wait a year or two and there is no guaranteed future with Klopp.
It’s another factor that suggests Liverpool’s value is the highest right now than it would be under any other point with FSG.
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