The reports linking the Amit Bhatia consortium to Liverpool FC have only gotten stronger since the initial interest was made public.
Reliable reports have emerged that the assembled Amit Bhatia consortium will eventually want a controlling stake at Liverpool FC.
Last week, it emerged that now former QPR owner and director Bhatia, alongside significant backing from his father-in-law and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, were forming a consortium to acquire a stake at Liverpool FC.
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While it was initially asserted that it would be a minor stake, it appears that their long-term ambitions are much larger than that.
Bloomberg Business report:
“The potential investors in Liverpool FC are planning to eventually obtain a controlling stake in the Premier League club, according to people familiar with the matter.”
“A group led by Amit Bhatia, the son-in-law of steel tycoon and billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, is currently negotiating with Fenway Sports Group for as much as 30% of the club. The potential buyers are considering how to eventually take control of the team, which could include the group buying more equity in stages, the people said, asking not to be named discussing private information.”
It’s also added that there is new legislature in the UK that makes taking principle ownership of clubs like Liverpool FC more complicated compared to the same process in the USA:
“The new Football Governance Act regime requires notification to the Independent Football Regulator when there is a reasonable chance that someone will become an owner.”
Both Jeff Bezos of Amazon and one of Facebook founder’s Eduardo Saverin have reportedly been approached to join up with the ambitious consortium.
It’s still unclear whether either one has committed yet to the stake claim. Meanwhile, the news of the Bhatia consortiums end goals arrives after Liverpool CEO Billy Hogan kept his cards close to his chest while on pre-season with Andoni Iraola’s squad:
“From our perspective at the club, we’ve always looked at running the club sustainably, which does mean investment and commercial growth. But also meaning how we maintain that connection with our supporters and the overall ethos of what Liverpool Football Club stands for.”
On the consortium reports, Hogan added:
“I can only refer back to the statement from FSG last week that we have been approached by a consortium that’s led, managed and represented by Amit Bhatia for a strategic minority investment in the club. And I wouldn’t say anything other than that at this point.”