"The deal is..." - Qatari journalist drops major Liverpool takeover update

A Qatari journalist has dropped a major update regarding Fenway Sports Group’s (FSG) sale of Liverpool.

In November the Reds owners announced they were seeking new shareholders at Liverpool, and that they had not ruled out the prospect of a full sale of the club.

The Americans, led by principal owner John W Henry, recruited major banks Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to assess the conditions of the market.

Indeed, when news of the potential sale first broke FSG said in a statement, that under the right conditions they “would consider new shareholders” for the club. The group added that they “remained fully committed to the success of Liverpool, both on and off the pitch."

Since, a number of prospective bidders have been linked with the Merseyside club, from oil-rich Middle Eastern states to European consortiums and American venture capitalists.

However, at present it remains unclear whether FSG will sell their majority stake and if so, who is likely to buy the club.

Qatar 'given priority'

Qatari journalist Mohammed Alkaabi has told The Anfield Talk that Qatar have been given priority in the acquisition of Liverpool.

The Gulf state are allegedly seriously interested in purchasing Liverpool, though a deal is not complete at present.

The journalist’s claims come days after the Telegraph reported that the auction of Liverpool is in “full swing”, with a formal bid for the club expected in the next month. Notably, the report does not mention Qatar as an expected bidder.

The Qatar Sports Investment (QSI), which is a subsidiary of the nation’s sovereign wealth fund, currently owns Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain.

However, they allegedly want to expand their portfolio and have been linked with both Liverpool and Manchester United in recent weeks.

Moreover, CBS Sport reported that QSI chairman and the PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi had met with Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy in London last week - a claim the north London club have denied.