Bezos-led Consortium closes in on major Liverpool stake

Amazon chief Jeff Bezos is reportedly inching closer to acquiring a substantial stake in Liverpool FC, according to Sky News. The investment consortium, headed by Amit Bhatia, son-in-law of Lakshmi Mittal, and including Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin, is said to be closing in on a deal for a significant portion of the Premier League club.

FSG, Liverpool’s controlling entity since 2010, is reportedly ready to announce the agreement as early as this week, although the finalization timeline remains uncertain. Initial reports indicated a target of around a third of the club, though a source close to the negotiations suggested the final stake might surpass that. Should the deal materialize at the projected £4.4 billion valuation, it would be one of the largest deals in football history, representing a significant jump in the club’s value since FSG purchased it sixteen years ago for a fraction of that amount.

Neither Liverpool nor FSG have officially commented on the reports. Bezos, with a fortune estimated at over $280 billion, has previously shown interest in major sports teams, having considered bids for the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders NFL franchises before pulling out. If successful, this would be his first verified entry into football ownership, aligning with Liverpool’s current transitional phase following the exit of manager Arne Slot and star forward Mohamed Salah, despite securing the Premier League title in the previous season.

The investment aims to bolster Liverpool’s financial resources as they compete with state-backed rivals such as Manchester City and Newcastle United in an era characterized by aggressive spending in the Premier League.