Liverpool will need support from FSG this summer. The owners have already green-lit two exciting midfield additions, but it is clear that there is still plenty to do in the transfer market as departures for Fabinho and Jordan Henderson draw ever closer.
As Liverpool monetizes these aging assets, with Fabinho in particular netting a windfall, it’s something of a dream come true for the sustainable FSG model. While relying primarily on player sales looked to be stretching things a little thin in recent years, the arrival of Saudi Arabia on the scene has at least provided a willing buyer.
Nonetheless, it’s critical that these funds are now invested wisely. And with would-be sellers aware of Liverpool’s transfer need, FSG may have to face up to the prospect of stomaching some inflated fees, always with the goal of improving things on the pitch
Liverpool ‘looks at’ Europe’s top tackler as surprise exit of ‘magic’ young midfielder confirmed
Off the pitch, the owners have got some exciting news, with a long-planned $1.6bn project getting the go-ahead this week.
has the potential to be a major FSG revenue stream in future.
Meanwhile, part-owner LeBron James has been told how he can secure his ‘Greatest Of All Time’ status. Here’s what we spotted from the world of FSG this week.
LeBron James told how to earn ‘GOAT’ status
For many, LeBron James is already the ‘GOAT’. He became the NBA’s all-time leading point scorer last season, and recently confirmed he would stay on for at least another year with the LA Lakers.
Formerly a minority stakeholder in Liverpool, he has since traded that in for a stake in the overall FSG empire. It is widely believed that there are plans for him to eventually front a basketball franchise.
For now, though, his primary focus remains with the Lakers. And an insider NBA source told the LA Times an unlikely criterion for securing his GOAT status.
The Lakers are currently one of the parties interested in free agent Christian Wood. But there are ‘reasons why he’s available’, and he would present LeBron with a challenge:
“If LeBron [James] can get him to toe the line, it cements LeBron as the greatest player of all time. That’s how hard it is.”
Liverpool.com says: Clearly, this will not be the key to LeBron James’ legacy one way or the other. Apart from anything else, with Wood not yet Lakers-bound, it’s a highly premature shout.
But it does shed some interesting light on LeBron’s role as he prepares for his 21st NBA season. Now firmly in the veteran camp, he will play a big part in helping to guide his teammates, while also continuing to deliver on the court.
That role for experienced heads is a potential worry at Liverpool this season. The departures of Henderson and Fabinho, with James Milner already gone, will leave a big void.
FSG project gets green light
FSG has got the go-ahead on a long-awaited $1.6bn project. The Liverpool owners have received approval from Boston officials for a major real estate development around Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox.
Front Office Sports reported the news that the plans for ‘Fenway Corners’ have been waved through. The development is set to comprise eight buildings around the stadium, 200 new homes and 40 retail locations.
Liverpool.com says: Liverpool should not be surprised to see FSG investing in infrastructure. It has done so extensively at Anfield, despite various logistical challenges.
It’s undoubtedly one of the biggest ticks against the owners’ name. This kind of work is a win/win, with FSG increasing the value of its franchises, but also carving out new revenue streams, with that money set to filter back into the running of the teams.
‘Massive’ Liverpool investment need
The CEO of the Boston Red Sox has admitted that it takes ‘massive investment’ to run Liverpool and the other teams in the FSG stable.
“These clubs, these franchises, they need massive investment,” Kennedy told Bloomberg. “Are we disciplined? Do we try to be disciplined? Yes, of course, because we need to spend at the player development area on free agents, on transfers when it comes to global football.”
This comes against the backdrop of a search for new investment in Liverpool. Clearly, FSG is keenly aware of the need to commit funds to things like transfer fees in order to ensure continued success.
Liverpool.com says: The big question is whether FSG alone can provide the ‘massive investment’ needed. The Red Sox CEO was certainly not implying anything to the contrary, but the ‘disciplined’ approach of the current owners has undoubtedly drawn fan ire at times on both sides of the Atlantic.
At the same time, FSG has also brought moments of triumph to both Liverpool and the Red Sox. While most would agree that the search for further investment into the Reds is a welcome development, Kennedy and his Anfield counterparts have done their best to remain as competitive as possible.
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