‘Before people realise’: Neville is convinced FSG are up against the clock to sell Liverpool

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Gary Neville believes FSG are up against the clock to sell Liverpool. They’ve got to do it before potential buyers realise something.

News broke on Monday that FSG are looking to sell Liverpool – or at least, sell a stake in the club. It certainly sounds as though they’re willing to let go of the whole thing but their statement only suggests a partial investment.

Still, the idea that they are up for selling is new. FSG have always been strong in their denials around any intention to sell. The blatant weakening of that position does suggest something has changed.

So why is that? Gary Neville discussed the news on The Overlap this week and he believes FSG are seeing a now-or-never situation after Todd Boehly bought Chelsea back in May.

The American paid around £4.25bn for the Blues and Liverpool supposedly want more than that. However, that valuation won’t last long.

“I said about [Manchester] United four or five months ago that they need to sell,” said Neville. “One because they need the cash to do what Liverpool have done, transform the training ground, the stadium.

“But also, that Chelsea valuation is only going to last for 12 to 18 months before people realise that actually, Chelsea aren’t making profit. Where are these American investment funds going to get the money from?

“It absolutely makes sense. They haven’t got the money, really, FSG, to compete with other teams in the league. They’ve developed the stadium, they’ve got Jurgen Klopp and with that Chelsea valuation – which sets the standard – they’re thinking ‘now’s the time to get out’.

“Because if they dip down the league, people will think ‘hang on a minute, Boehly’s overpaid at Chelsea’.”

FSG to sell Liverpool

Neville really does have a point here. While it’s easy to think that investors can’t possibly overvalue a football club like that, Chelsea went for an enormous amount. Amounts that you typically only see in US sports.

But US teams are worth a lot more than football clubs for one exceptional reason – they can’t fail. There’s no relegation, you can’t miss out on income, and the draft system means you always get a free shot at the best players.

None of that exists in football. Liverpool could get their next two transfer windows wrong and tumble down the league. Chelsea could miss out on Champions league football for a few years with the wrong decisions – like, for instance, sacking a European Cup-winning manager right after the transfer window.

Those failures would see each club tumble, if only for a few years. And with Newcastle United miraculously climbing up the table, competing for the top-four spots will be tougher than ever.

Thus Neville is right. If Chelsea decline in value – and they probably will – then Liverpool’s current valuation disappears with it. Selling quickly makes absolute sense.