Liverpool FC is up for sale. Here are the parties reportedly interested in buying the $4.6 billion soccer giant.

Barnaby LaneNov 9, 2022, 20:40 IST

Liverpool's owners have put the club up for sale.Getty/Clive Brunskil

Liverpool FC has been put up for sale.
According to The Athletic, the club's current owners, Fenway Sports Group, are "inviting offers."

Liverpool FC, one of world soccer's biggest clubs, has been put up for sale.

According to The Athletic, the club's current owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), are "inviting offers" and have made a full sales presentation for interested parties.

Purchased by FSG in 2010 for around $340 million, any sale of Liverpool is now expected to fetch as much as $4.6 billion, according to BBC Sport.

"FSG has frequently received expressions of interest from third parties seeking to become shareholders in Liverpool," an FSG spokesperson told The Athletic.

"FSG has said before that under the right terms and conditions we would consider new shareholders if it was in the best interests of Liverpool as a club."

Below, we take a look at the parties who have been reported to be interested in taking over the Merseyside club.

RedBird Capital Partners

RedBird Capital Partners' Gerry Cardinale.Courtesy RedBird Capital Partners

One of those linked with buying Chelsea FC earlier this year, RedBird Capital Partners already owns an 11% stake in FSG.

The private-equity firm already has ownership stakes in Toulouse FC and Italian soccer side AC Milan, which it purchased for $1.1 billion in August.

Founder Gerry Cardinale, a former partner at Goldman Sachs, has previously refused to rule out acquiring full ownership of Liverpool.

"I definitely would not exclude it as it would be a privilege," he said last year, according to The Mirror.

One of those linked with buying Chelsea FC earlier this year, RedBird Capital Partners already owns an 11% stake in FSG.

The private-equity firm already has ownership stakes in Toulouse FC and Italian soccer side AC Milan, which it purchased for $1.1 billion in August.

Founder Gerry Cardinale, a former partner at Goldman Sachs, has previously refused to rule out acquiring full ownership of Liverpool.

I definitely would not exclude it as it would be a privilege, he said last year, according to The Mirror.

Sheikh Khaled Bin Zayed Al Nehayan

Sheikh Khaled is the cousin of Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour.Getty/Dan Istitene

A member of Abu Dhabi's ruling Al Nahyan family, Sheikh Khaled allegedly tried to buy Liverpool in 2018.

According to SportsMail, he approached FSG representatives in late 2017 and early 2018 before making a $2.3 billion offer, which was rejected.

Had the deal gone through, it would have been the most expensive takeover of a soccer club in history.

A member of Abu Dhabi's ruling Al Nahyan family, Sheikh Khaled allegedly tried to buy Liverpool in 2018.

According to SportsMail, he approached FSG representatives in late 2017 and early 2018 before making a $2.3 billion offer, which was rejected.

Had the deal gone through, it would have been the most expensive takeover of a soccer club in history.

Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor.Photo by Getty Images

Shortly after reports emerged that Liverpool was up for sale, McGregor said he "would love" to buy the club.

Responding to a fan on Twitter who had urged the former UFC champion to buy Liverpool, he said: "I requested my information on this, yes. Soon as I heard. What a turn of events! What a club!"

McGregor also stated his interest in taking over Chelsea FC in March when it was put up for sale by former owner and Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.

Shortly after reports emerged that Liverpool was up for sale, McGregor said he would love to buy the club.

Responding to a fan on Twitter who had urged the former UFC champion to buy Liverpool, he said: I requested my information on this, yes. Soon as I heard. What a turn of events! What a club!

McGregor also stated his interest in taking over Chelsea FC in March when it was put up for sale by former owner and Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.

Anonymous Middle Eastern party

John Henry is FSG's co-founder and Liverpool's current owner.Getty/Michael Regan

According to The Mirror, just seven months ago, FSG rejected a $3.4 billion offer for Liverpool from an unknown party in the Middle East.

The Mirror reported at the time that a number of other potential bidders – most of them also from the Middle East – were hovering to wait and see if FSG would change its mind about selling.