The Financial Times and Sunday Times are covering the story about potential Chinese investment into Liverpool Football Club.
Liverpool's owners Fenway Sports Group who bought the club for less than £300M almost 6 years ago are currently putting the finishing touches to the new Main Stand construction which is expected to deliver an extra £25M per season onto the balance sheet.
The reports suggest that FSG have hired financial advisors after a consortium led by Chinese State investment arm Everbright have made an offer in connection with the club. Amanda Staveley, who was involved in the Man City purchase by Sheikh Mansour, is a key player in a deal as the founder of PCP Capital Partners which is partnering with the Chinese investors.
It is believed the investment wants to take significant stake, which could even be a majority stake or takeover, valuing the club at around £800M.
The reds are currently the 9th richest club by revenue, but despite this net transfer spending over the past few years has been minimal. This summer the club have recoupled more in transfer fees than they have spent on new players despite the hugely increased wealth from new TV deals.
Whilst Fenway have repeated that the club is not for sale, they have been keen to look for naming rights for the new Main Stand and would welcome any investment that could see them recoup their £300M purchase costs whilst still maintaining a controlling stake in the club.
Fans would rightly be concerned about further dilution of control at Anfield. The last joint ownership of Liverpool under Tom Hicks and George Gillett led to deep seated problems within the boardroom.
