Sources: Liverpool owners FSG’s next takeover target revealed
Liverpool parent company Fenway Sports Group are looking at teams in Band 2 leagues with a view to adding a new football club to their portfolio, sources have told Football Insider.
The FA’s Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) system lists the Portuguese Primeira Liga, Eredivisie, Belgian First Division A, and the Turkish Super Lig as Band 2 competitions.
Post-Brexit rules currently allow overseas players to join an English club if they have a sufficient number of caps for national teams that feature high in the FIFA World Rankings.
But all other players must meet a 15-point threshold based on their domestic career in order to qualify.
Players in Band 2 leagues automatically get 10 points plus another five if they play 40-49 per cent of their club’s minutes across the season.
This has led FSG to target Band 2 leagues in order to effectively park players overseas before they attain enough points to join the mothership, a mergers and acquisitions agent told Football Insider.
Liverpool are currently FSG’s only football investment, but the US-based investment firm also owns MLB outfit the Boston Red Sox and NHL side the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Red Bird Capital meanwhile, the private equity group that has an 11 per cent stake in FSG, completed a takeover of AC Milan in August and also lists Ligue 1 side Toulouse among their portfolio.
FSG have previously been linked with takeovers of two historic Brazilian sides, Cruzeiro and Atletico Mineiro.
But Cruzeiro have since been bought out by other investors while the media in Brazil claim that Atletico are also looking elsewhere.
The FA is reportedly considering softening its stance on the GBE system amid unanimous support from Premier League clubs.
But any change to the regulations would require government backing and is likely to take a while to implement.
Players with between 10 and 14 points under the GBE rules currently qualify for the exceptions panel.
In other news, Trent Alexander-Arnold backed to thrive in new role after Liverpool source’s reveal today.