FSG chief speaks out on rumours Liverpool owners are 'considering' record takeover bid

Liverpool’s ownership group were rumoured to be eyeing up a whopping £4.6billion takeover bid as they look to branch out into one of the world's most recognisable leagues

Liverpool’s owners – the Fenway Sports Group – have denied that they are ‘considering’ an approach to purchasing the NBA’s Boston Celtics.

The Boston-based group, led by John W. Henry, purchased a majority stake in the Reds in 2010, and also own the MLB’s Boston Red Sox and NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins. They further lead a consortium that injected £2.3 billion into the PGA Tour earlier this year.

FSG have returned success to Anfield through their shrewd transfer business and one savvy managerial appointment in particular; Jurgen Klopp leading the Reds to the Premier League title and Champions League trophy during their ownership. Any potential ownership group looking at a foray into the NBA would need to bury their hands deep into their pockets, with either an expansion team or the purchase of a side like the Celtics likely to rise above £4billion.

During the summer, the stars seemingly aligned for FSG to take the plunge into professional basketball. Fresh off the back of their Larry O’Brien trophy triumph, the C’s were listed for sale by their majority ownership group, spearheaded by Wyc Grousbeck.

Valued at an estimated $6b (£4.6b) – and slap bang in the middle of FSG territory, New England – the New York Post claimed that the firm was ‘considering’ making a bid for the record-breaking 18-time champs.

Image: Getty Images) Getty Images)

Any deal would make the Celtics the most expensive team in the league’s history and potentially more valuable than the priciest sports team to trade hands, the Washington Commanders ($6.05b).

Yet, FSG CEO Sam Kennedy has denied such rumours, telling MassLive: “I don’t see it to be appropriate to talk about the Celtics today other than to say congrats on another world championship. But that’s not on our radar right now.”

However, an NBA franchise has seemingly been on the firm's radar in the past, so there may still be some developments. With the league aiming to expand from 30 teams to 32 in the future, Gerry Cardinale – founder and managing partner of RedBird Capital, who boast an 11% stake in FSG – suggested Las Vegas as a potential destination for the group to begin laying NBA foundations.

Image: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

FSG is associated with current Los Angeles Lakers - the Celtic's bitter historical rivals - and all-time NBA great LeBron James, who became a partner in 2021, and was also considered when Cardinale opened up about prospects. “We’re looking at bringing an NBA expansion team here in partnership with LeBron and Fenway Sports Group,” Cardinale stated in 2023.

“We started this project three years ago. The price talk on an NBA team three years ago was US$3 billion. The price talk today on an NBA expansion team is $5.5billion to $6billion.

“I’m not sure I can make that work. Maybe we’re hitting that inflexion point, and it may mean that, if we want to see a continued linear progression in these valuations, maybe it’s a different type of capital [that we need].

“Maybe I’ve evolved out of existence, and maybe now I’m handing the baton over to a sovereign [wealth fund] or to a lower cost-of-capital provider. It could be we’ve reached that point.”

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