Here is your Liverpool morning digest for Tuesday, February 21.
John Henry has given Liverpool exactly what they needed
There appears to be some clarity at last, writes Dave Powell.
This season has been one of struggle on the pitch for Jurgen Klopp and his Liverpool side. The feats of last season and sailing so close to what would have been an unprecedented quadruple, the hangover from that wild ride, allied with the lack of reinforcements to rejuvenate in the summer have seen the Reds look jaded.
But behind the struggle on the pitch there has been the constant unease that the November revelations around Fenway Sports Group potentially being ready to part company with the most valuable asset in their $10bn empire have brought.
READ MORE: John Henry finally breaks silence on future of Liverpool FC
READ MORE: Darwin Nunez injury update as Jurgen Klopp explains Liverpool 'chance' for Real Madrid
FSG had been looking for minority investment for some time, engaging both Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley merchant banks to facilitate that search. But the events of last year surrounding the expedited sale process of Chelsea changed the approach, as did the desire of some minority partners who had a long-held shareholding in FSG to consider divesting and realising some cash.
When Roman Abramovich was forced to sell Chelsea following the sanctions imposed on him by UK Government following Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, and his close historical ties to Russia president Vladimir Putin, it set off the most hotly contested auction process in British football history. One where the nature of the incredibly tight timescale due to Chelsea being on borrowed time financially meant that there were a wealth of would-be football club owners who were ready to spend.
The sale price, £2.5bn, was seen as overvalued by many US investors that the ECHO spoke to, but the winning bid of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, backed up by Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss, gave owners the first real taste of what the true value of top six assets in the Premier League could be worth.
With Liverpool one of the Premier League's very biggest clubs, with a global fan base of hundreds of millions and with success on and off the field to boast of, there was a desire by FSG to test the water and see just how much interest was out there as the Reds ownership group sought to recapitalise the business ahead of what is expected to be a costly rebuild where the sale of players won't be able to make a serious dent in what the outlay needs to be.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
Liverpool U-turned to complete transfer after Man United phone call
Stefan Bajcetic is preparing for the biggest game of his fledgling career to date as Liverpool lock horns with Real Madrid on Tuesday night in a rematch of last year’s Champions League final.
The 18-year-old has taken advantage of the Reds’ midfield struggles to establish himself as first-choice under Jurgen Klopp in recent weeks. Starting all of Liverpool’s last six matches, the young Spaniard will be hoping to retain his place against his homeland’s biggest side.
Boasting 14 appearances for the Reds so far this season, Bajcetic made three substitute appearances during the Champions League group-stages but Tuesday night’s clash at Anfield could see him handed his first European start. One of four players replaced in the 59th minute of Liverpool’s 2-0 win away at Newcastle on Saturday, it would suggest Klopp indeed had one eye on this clash with the La Liga giants.
If selected, it will be the latest landmark for the teenager as his astonishing rise continues. He only moved to Anfield little over two years ago, after all, joining from Celta Vigo in a £224k deal when just a 16-year-old centre-back, with his transformation into a midfielder only coming under the watchful eye of the Reds’ academy.
Yet Liverpool nearly passed on signing Bajcetic altogether according to the player’s father, former Celta Vigo midfielder Srdan Bajcetic, only to U-turn after hearing Manchester United were in for the Spaniard. A deal was then quickly concluded as he became the club's last signing before the new Brexit transfer rules for Under-18s were implemented.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
READ NEXT:
Darwin Nunez new injury update and three other things spotted in Liverpool training
- Jurgen Klopp sends perfect message to 'idiots' abusing Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr
- Jurgen Klopp explains Real Madrid 'torture' and why he wouldn't watch Liverpool defeat
- Real Madrid suffer major double injury blow ahead of Champions League clash with Liverpool
- Cody Gakpo asked about 'best position' as Liverpool role could change against Real Madrid
