Maguire: FSG told to exploit Liverpool after board hit hard
It is “absolutely essential” for clubs like Liverpool to find new ways of monetising their fanbase amid the economic fallout of the pandemic.
That is according to finance guru and new Football Insider correspondent Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively after the Merseysiders finalised a £1.6million deal with Preston North End for centre-back Ben Davies.
Quoted by Goal, Jurgen Klopp later said of the transfer: “In a normal transfer window, without any issues, we would not look at Preston.”
Davies has never played in the Premier League at the age of 25 and his new manager’s comments highlight the fact that Covid-19 has hit even the biggest clubs’ pocketbooks.
Maguire believes that Liverpool need to look to capitalise on their global following in order to offset the damage caused by the pandemic.
He told Football Insider: “It’s absolutely essential that clubs think as broadly as possible. And to a certain extent, Covid has made people at boardroom level realise that nothing is guaranteed in football.
“Trying to think outside the box in terms of new ways of engaging and monetising the fans has got to be the way forward.
“Why not say, if you buy a shirt with this players name on it we’ll give you a 20% discount? Why not take more advantage of wi-fi in stadiums with marketing initiatives?
“These are all things the club may look to do when they have the opportunity.
“Liverpool are a global brand with the reach to really capitalise on their commercial revenue.”
Ben Davies was a pre-contract target for Celtic before Liverpool swooped in at the 11th hour.
The 25-year-old leaves Deepdable having played 145 times and scored twice for Preston across eight years of service.
In other news, a top pundit has given his verdict on Liverpool’s title ambitions.