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Bhatia seeks Liverpool stake
Fenway Sports Group (FSG) confirmed it has been approached by a consortium led by British-Indian businessman Amit Bhatia to make a strategic minority investment in Liverpool Football Club.
“FSG confirmed they had been approached regarding the potential investment.”
The talks follow Bhatia’s departure from Queens Park Rangers, after he transferred his shareholding to majority owner Ruben Gnanalingam, ending an 18-year involvement with the Championship club.
FSG’s ownership of Liverpool, bought for £300million in 2010, sits alongside its other sports holdings including the Boston Red Sox and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Multiple outlets tied the proposed deal to a valuation of more than $6bn, with talkSPORT saying Liverpool could be worth $6billion as negotiations proceed and The Economic Times reporting the group is “eyes stake in $6 bn Liverpool FC.”
Quotes, timing, and valuation
FSG’s spokesperson reiterated the same framing to Sky Sports News, saying: “An investment consortium led, managed, and represented by Amit Bhatia has expressed interest in making a strategic minority investment in Liverpool Football Club.”
Bhatia’s QPR exit was also reflected in the reporting, with Sky Sports News stating he was QPR's co-owner until July 21 when he transferred his share to Ruben Gnanalingam.
The Guardian put a specific figure on the discussions, saying a sale of 30% of the club is being discussed with an offer of around £1.35bn, while also describing a valuation of about £4.5bn.
ESPN and The New York Times both emphasized that no agreement has yet been struck, with ESPN saying “no agreement has yet been struck” and The New York Times noting sources saying talks are “in their early stages.”
What it could change next
If the consortium deal progresses, it would follow FSG’s prior minority sale to Dynasty, which Sky Sports News said raised £164m and was used to pay down debt and help finance capital expenditure.
“FSG sold a small stake in the club to the US private equity firm for £164m”
The Guardian also linked the talks to FSG’s broader position as a majority owner, noting the Boston-based group led by John W Henry has previously held discussions over a minority sale without reaching agreement.
For Bhatia, the move is tied to his family backing, with the Guardian describing the consortium as backed by his father-in-law Lakshmi Mittal and Sky Sports News saying the investment group have hired advisors to work on a potential deal.
The New York Times added that Bhatia appointed advisers to work on the deal while the proposed stake was described as similar-sized to the one FSG sold to Dynasty, when the American investment firm paid “a figure in the region of £150million ($200million) for about three per cent of the Premier League club.”
