Liverpool in advanced talks to buy ‘mystery French club’
Liverpool could complete their first step towards a multi-club model very shortly.
Fenway Sports Group have been looking to add another club to their portfolio, with Michael Edwards being brought in specifically to oversee the process.
Reported interest in Malaga and Bordeaux has failed to come to fruition and the Anfield hierarchy have been forced to keep looking for a team to purchase to fulfil their ambitions.
Liverpool closing in on French club
While sporting director Richard Hughes and Arne Slot work on transfers this summer, Edwards and the ownership will be looking elsewhere.
A report from Alan Nixon, via his Patreon (11 May), claims that the Reds are in “advanced talks” over purchasing a “mystery” French outfit.
It states that the Premier League champions are looking for a partner in Ligue 1 to send young players on loan and to recruit potential superstars and could reach a deal before the new season starts.
FSG multi-club development should benefit Liverpool
Multi-club ownership is the latest vogue for elite clubs as they seek every advantage to keep their place at the top in the post-Brexit world.
Liverpool are extremely late to the party, with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City already establishing their models and having networks in place with the likes of Strasbourg, Troyes and Girona among the clubs in their ranks.
| Chelsea (Stake) | Man City (Stake) |
| Strasbourg (99%) | Melbourne City (100%) |
| Mumbai City (65%) | |
| New York City (80%) | |
| Troyes (100%) | |
| Lommel (99%) | |
| Montevideo City Torque (100%) | |
| Girona (47%) | |
| Palermo (94.94%) | |
| Bahia (90%) | |
| Shenzhen Peng City (47%) | |
| Yokohama F. Marinos (20%) |
The main advantage is bringing the best players from the lower-ranked club to the leading club in the model, so in this case, the Reds could secure the elite talents from the other team under their ownership.
Another benefit is that the champions could send their academy prospects or youth signings on loan to get a taste of senior football and enhance their development before they make the step up to the elite level.
It is not likely to be a financially successful venture for the American ownership group, with Kieran Maguire claiming that the Citizens make huge losses from their City Football Group
Simon Jordan has criticised the trend but it is important that the L4 outfit keep up with the competition and go down a similar route, otherwise, they could be left behind in the future.