Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp has reportedly held talks with FSG ahead of the transfer window, while the owners are expected to close a massive deal of their own.

Liverpool: top at Christmas? That’s the immediate question at Anfield, with the chance to all but guarantee that outcome presenting itself when Arsenal comes to town on Saturday.

The prestige of the position is well-known. Either a portent of future triumph or a poisoned chalice, depending on who you speak to, it’s clearly a positive sign to be leading the pack around the halfway stage in the campaign, and Liverpool will be keen to secure such status.

But regardless of whether or not that comes to pass, Liverpool will clearly remain in and around the title picture as 2023 gives way to 2024. While Jürgen Klopp may play it down publicly, that clearly has the potential to have a bearing on January transfer activity, with FSG afforded the chance to augment a potential bid for the Premier League crown.

 

After the win against West Ham, there’s also another clear route to silverware, with Liverpool a two-legged semi-final away from a League Cup final against either Chelsea or Middlesbrough. With Klopp’s side therefore set to be competing on four fronts into the new year, the incentive to improve the squad is plain.

There have duly been ‘talks’ to that effect between Klopp and FSG, according to one report. Meanwhile, the Liverpool owners are expected to make a major financial splash elsewhere. Here’s everything you might have missed from the world of the Boston-based billionaires this week.

FSG $3bn deal now expected

After weeks of speculation, it seems FSG is now on the brink of leading a group of US businesspeople to a remarkable deal with the PGA Tour. Described by ESPN as ‘imminent’, investment worth around $3bn will be pumped into the golf tour.

Interestingly, the PGA Tour still hopes to strike a similar agreement with PIF, with the possibility of both deals going ahead. That would be a colossal investment into the sport — and would see the Liverpool owners and Newcastle owners become partners of sorts. A deal with PIF is yet to materialize, with the framework agreement set to expire on December 31. That could still be extended.

Liverpool.com says: FSG certainly needs to make sure its existing teams are performing if it’s going to be spending such huge amounts on new investments. Otherwise, backlash is a given. But this would be an exciting move for the Liverpool owners.

After years of a relatively steady portfolio, with Liverpool and the Boston Red Sox very much the main attractions, things have really burst into life over the last few years. There was the addition of the Pittsburgh Penguins, the recent investment into one of the inaugural teams in the ‘TGL’ virtual golf league, and now there’s this audacious play on (traditional) golf’s showpiece.

Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp in ‘talks’ with FSG

If Jürgen Klopp is to be believed, then January transfer business is very unlikely. In particular, the Liverpool manager played down the possibility of recruiting another center-back amid the injury to Joël Matip.

However, behind the scenes, it’s thought that another foray into the winter transfer market is possible. The Daily Mail reports that Liverpool is ‘alert to opportunities’, having added Cody Gakpo and Luis Díaz around this time in the last two years.

The Mirror has gone as far as to suggest that Liverpool has ‘hatched a clear January transfer plan’ after ‘private talks’ between Klopp and FSG. That involves being attentive to any potential targets at clubs who have failed to make the expected progress in Europe.

Liverpool.com says: Klopp’s hardly going to give away his whole transfer plan in press conferences. Moreover, the Liverpool manager always genuinely believes in his existing group of players, and that comes across in his remarks.

But that does not preclude the possibility of transfer business. Perhaps surprisingly, FSG has enjoyed the January market recently, and another foray could be exactly what’s required to lift a push for silverware across multiple fronts.

Red Sox hire coach fired by Yankees

There’s been a fair amount of restructuring for the Boston Red Sox to do over the off-season. While the franchise has been a little prone to boom and bust cycles under FSG, the campaign just gone represented a second straight year of stagnation, prompting major changes at all levels.

After a protracted search, it named Craig Breslow as the new Chief Baseball Officer, with Chaim Bloom having been dismissed. Alex Cora has stayed on as manager, but there have been changes within his coaching team.

Per The Athletic, the latest of those will see Dillon Lawson join as hitting coordinator. He was previously the MLB hitting coach for the New York Yankees, but was fired in July — he is expected to work primarily with the Red Sox’ upper-level minor-leaguers.

Liverpool.com says: Not the biggest part of the Red Sox overhaul, but another piece in the puzzle. All eyes will be on how they fare in the new season, with other clubs in the stable — Liverpool included — within their rights to get a little twitchy if the owners’ hometown team gets stuck in a downward spiral.

Fortunately, there’s no clear sign of a trend across all FSG’s sports teams. Liverpool has emphatically reversed its decline from last season, challenging for the title once more.