As we move into 2023, it's time for your Liverpool FC morning headlines on Sunday, January 1 - New Year's Day.
Paris-Saint Germain £3.5bn deal could pave way for FSG's New Year plan for Liverpool
The revelations at the beginning of November that Fenway Sports Group would listen to offers from those wanting to acquire their full shareholding in Liverpool jolted others into action.
In the days and weeks that followed the Glazer family placed Manchester United up for sale with a valuation of around £6bn, while Paris Saint-Germain owners Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) signalled their intentions to raise capital through selling a 15 per cent stake in the Ligue 1 club, one where a €4bn (£3.55bn) value was placed upon it.
While FSG are open to listening to offers for Liverpool the stance, according to well-placed sources in the US who the ECHO have spoken to, is that a full sale isn't the preferred option for FSG principal John W. Henry and that a "strategic partner" to help them find new avenues of growth is the direction that they would like to head. That said, if an individual, private equity fund or Middle Eastern consortium wanted to show their hand with a bid well in excess of $4bn (£3.3bn) then serious conversations would be had, with the investment search being led by FSG partner and Jurgen Klopp ally Mike Gordon, and facilitated by major US banks Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.
READ MORE: What Liverpool did to beat Manchester United to Cody Gakpo as inside story of £40m transfer emerges
The ECHO understands that little has materially changed since the beginning of November and there there is no "real" interest that has been shown to force discussions further down the line. The early months of January are expected to see the search for a longer-term partner become more focused, with the potential existing for any new minority partner to possibly accrete their interest over time and become a majority shareholder, allowing FSG to create some liquidity to support growth plans and plans for investment into Liverpool , while ensuring that they don't leave money on the table with a sale too early.
While the Glazers are looking to expedite the sale of the club and achieve the goal in the first quarter of 2023, something that is evidenced by them engaging the US investment bank Raine Group, who handled the Chelsea sale and have recent experience of a swift sale at an inflated price and a clutch of names they can turn to when drumming up buyer interest, the situation is markedly different for both FSG and PSG. The former would prefer a partial sale but would be open to a total exit, while the latter has no desire whatsoever to sell and needs a capital raise to aid their future growth.
Read the full story HERE.
'Not good' - Cody Gakpo sends blunt message to Liverpool rivals following transfer
Cody Gakpo has admitted he expected to become a Manchester United player in the summer and later came close to signing for Leeds United prior to his Anfield move.
It was Liverpool who won the race for the 23-year-old forward in the end, having paid a fee worth in the region of £40million to secure his services. Things could have ended very differently for the versatile forward, however, who believed he was Old Trafford-bound.
Erik ten Hag's side did not submit an official bid for Gakpo despite showing strong interest while talks reportedly collapsed with Leeds before a second proposal was knocked back by PSV.
Recalling this hectic period, he told the Mirror : "It was difficult this summer. It was a very intense period. I tried to find my peace, but it was difficult. I thought I was going to Manchester United, but in the end it didn't work out. Leeds United came in. They are a good club, but I asked myself if I should really go there and when you have a lot of doubts, it is not good.”
Read the full story HERE.
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