Sir Martin Broughton has claimed that he previously told John Henry and Fenway Sports Group that he might make a bid for Liverpool.
That’s what the billionaire told The Telegraph, speaking about the Reds’ prospects involving a takeover or minority investment.
“I did say to them at the outset that I might get involved,” Broughton said.
“I never asked for any financial information.
“I did one or two inquiries with people that I thought might be interested but it didn’t go any further.
“So now I’m just looking at it with a keen interest.”
Broughton, who’s a life-long Chelsea fan, served as Liverpool chairman between April 10 and October 13, 2010.
He was appointed with a remit to sell the club as the previous owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, had their “leveraged investments badly hit by the financial downturn”.
Broughton and Liverpool’s board won the right to sell the club to New England Sports Ventures (NESV) – now FSG – in a High Court case against Hicks and Gillett. The current owners secured the club for £300 million – less than the asking price – thanks to Broughton’s court victory (via The Telegraph).
Broughton said he told FSG he may bid
This would have been an exciting prospect for Liverpool fans, given Broughton played a big part in getting Hicks and Gillett out of Anfield.
Furthermore, with his claim that his consortium bid the same as Todd Boehly did for Chelsea, who were acquired for £2.5bn, with another £1.75bn agreed to be invested over a ten-year period.
Having witnessed the Blues’ spending since Boehly’s arrival, a similar investment at Liverpool would have done wonders for the club.
With Jurgen Klopp’s squad in dire need of a rebuild, Broughton could have been the man to lead the operation.
However, it now appears this possibility is off the table.
The lure of Chelsea for Broughton was too much, so bids for alternative clubs are unlikely to come to fruition.
With how things are going at the moment under FSG, the US-owners will need to act quickly if they aren’t to damage their reputation beyond repair on Merseyside.