Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group have moved to dismiss speculation suggesting that they are in talks to sell part of the club to a Chinese investment group.
As noted by the Liverpool Echo, reports on Saturday claimed that China Everbright were working with other parties to acquire a shareholding in the Premier League club in a deal valued at £800m.
In turn, it led to all sorts of tags including the potential for the Reds to be the ‘richest club in the Premier League’, as noted by The Times, with significant investment likely to have arrived had a takeover or partial sale been completed.
However, perhaps much to the disappointment of many supporters, club chairman Tom Werner has insisted that the club isn’t for sale, six years on from when FSG bought the club for £300m.
It’s added in the Echo report that the club hierarchy have always remained open to the idea of selling a minority stake, but are not actively looking for investment.
In turn, should China Everbright make a formal offer, it remains to be seen whether or not the club’s current ownership are willing to discuss a deal that could see Liverpool benefit from additional investment.
From a playing perspective, Jurgen Klopp will be desperate to avoid the situation becoming a distraction for all concerned at the club after his side fell to defeat to Burnley on Saturday.
It followed their 4-3 win over Arsenal on the opening weekend, with the German tactician now looking for consistency from his players without keeping one eye on what’s happening off the pitch.