Liverpool could land ‘£10m’ as talks accelerate – Keith Wyness
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has revealed Liverpool could generate up to £10million from a pre-season tour of Japan and Hong Kong next summer.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – admitted it will be worth significantly less than the £60million Manchester City and Chelsea are expected to earn from the Club World Cup.
The Athletic reported on 11 December Liverpool are in talks about playing friendly matches in Japan and Hong Kong as part of a pre-season tour of Asia next summer.
The Merseysiders haven’t played in Japan since they were beaten 1-0 by Sao Paulo in the 2005 World Club Championship final in Yokohama.
Liverpool’s most recent visit to Hong Kong was in 2017 when they faced Crystal Palace and Leicester City in the Premier League Asia Trophy.
Liverpool could land ‘serious’ sponsorship deals in Japan
Wyness suggested Arne Slot’s side will have time for a pre-season tour of Asia because they won’t be featuring in next summer’s Club World Cup.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I don’t know the commercial agreements around it, but certainly in Japan I’d expect Liverpool to have some very serious sponsorship deals around this.
“It seems to be because they’re not in the Club World Cup, they’ve got the time to do that.
“One thing is for sure, a tour to Japan won’t be anywhere near as big as a Club World Cup appearance.
“I think you may be looking at somewhere between £5-10million maximum for a trip like that compared to the £60million for the Club World Cup.
“That is a big difference and that’s what we have got to be looking at in terms of how you compare it.”
In other news, Liverpool plot shock move to sign Chelsea regular starter – insider.
For more Liverpool and exclusive news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.