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Topics: Sheikh Jassim, Manchester United, Premier League, Liverpool
Ryan Smart
Topics: Sheikh Jassim, Manchester United, Premier League, Liverpool
Sheikh Jassim has been tipped to bid for Liverpool after withdrawing from the race to take over Manchester United.
The Qatari businessman, through his Nine Two Foundation, had hoped to secure a full takeover of United from the Glazer family.
According to ESPN, his bid was worth £5 billion - almost double the club's market value of £2.6 billion - and included a commitment to wipe away existing debt and invest in infrastructure and recruitment.
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It is claimed that Sheikh Jassim saw the Glazers' £6 billion valuation as 'unrealistic' before deciding to walk away.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has now agreed a deal worth between £1.3-1.5 billion to take a 25 per cent minority stake in United from the Glazers.
Now, Daily Mail journalist Mike Keegan has tipped Sheikh Jassim to launch a bid for one of United's Premier League rivals as 'revenge' for missing out on taking over at Old Trafford.
Speaking on the 'It's All Kicking Off' podcast, Keegan explained: "The Qataris set aside about $8 billion (£6.57 billion) for the United project.
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"That money is there and ready to go, burning a hole in their pockets, so what a story that would be [to buy Liverpool].
From what I am led to believe, they [Qataris] are very, very disappointed and angered at how this has played out.
"What better way to respond than to get United's biggest rivals from down the road and throw all that money you were going to throw into Manchester United into making them pay for that decision not to sell to you."
In a statement last November, Liverpool's current owners, FSG, released a statement indicating that they would accept offers of outside investment 'if it was in the best interests of Liverpool as a club'.
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In a Q&A with the Boston Sports Journal in February, principal owner John W Henry confirmed that a full sale was off the table, although FSG were in talks with potential investors.
And last month, it was announced that FSG had sold a minority stake - believed to be between 1.9 and 3.8 per cent - in Liverpool to US-based firm Dynasty Equity. The deal, according to The Athletic, was worth between $100 million (£82m) and $200 million (£164m).
Given Henry's previous comments on a full sale, and the recent minority sale, it is unclear as to whether a potential Qatari takeover is realistic - but that may not stop them from trying.