Could Liverpool become another 'oil money' club? FSG 'turned down £3bn bid from the Middle East' only last year

Liverpool owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), turned down a “£3billion bid from the Middle East” only last year, according to a report.

This morning The Athletic reported that FSG had put the Reds up for sale and that a full sales presentation had been produced for interested parties.

The group has owned Liverpool since 2010, with the club having since returned to its former glories on the domestic and European stage.

Under the sports investment firm's ownership, Liverpool won their first Premier League title in 30 years, while also capturing the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Champions League.

However, the Americans’ relationship with the club’s fanbase soured after the controversial attempts to put Liverpool in a European Super League - a proposed seasonal competition that would have been contested by twenty European clubs.

FSG has reportedly looked at opportunities to sell in the past but decided against moving forward with them.

One such offer came from the Middle East, according to a Mirror report.

In 2021, the publication claimed that a £3 billion bid came in for the club from the region but was knocked back, despite the coronavirus having cost the club around £120million in lost revenue.

The publication also claimed that most of Liverpool’s potential bidders in 2021 were from the "oil rich Middle East" - with many parties from the area hovering to see if John W Henry and Anfield chairman Tom Werner would consider a sale.

It was not the first time Liverpool received interest from buyers in the region.

In 2017 the Daily Mail reported that representatives for Sheikh Khaled Bin Zayed Al Nehayan, part of the ruling Abu Dhabi family, met with FSG over a period of months in late 2017.

It was said Sheikh Khaled proposed a huge £2 billion takeover with a Chinese minority shareholder.

In turn, Liverpool released a statement insisting the deal had broken down before Sheikh Khaled and FSG's majority shareholders Mr Henry or Mr Gordon had even met.

With the club now up for sale, Middle Eastern parties will likely be keen on buying the English giants once more.

FSG, who also own the Boston Red Sox, told The Athletic earlier today: "There have been several recent changes of ownership and rumours of changes in ownership at EPL clubs and inevitably we are asked regularly about Fenway Sports Group’s ownership in Liverpool.

"FSG has frequently received expressions of interest from third parties seeking to become shareholders in Liverpool. FSG has said before that under the right terms and conditions we would consider new shareholders if it was in the best interests of Liverpool as a club.

"FSG remains fully committed to the success of Liverpool, both on and off the pitch."