In a recent episode of Football Insider’s *Inside Track* podcast, Keith Wyness, the former CEO of Everton and current football consultant, shared his perspective on the speculation surrounding a potential Saudi Arabian takeover of Liverpool FC.
Wyness, who served at Goodison Park from 2004 to 2009 and now advises elite clubs through his consultancy, made it clear that a Saudi investment in Liverpool is still a distant possibility.
Reports from *ESPN* on September 10 suggested that John Henry, the principal owner of Liverpool’s parent company Fenway Sports Group (FSG), has been collaborating with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) to facilitate the merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.
The discussions, which took place in New York earlier this month, centered around a substantial $1 billion investment from Saudi Arabia into the PGA Tour.Despite Henry’s engagement with PIF officials on this matter, Wyness, speaking to *Football Insider* on September 18, emphasized that it is unlikely for Liverpool to receive any direct investment from Saudi Arabia.
He explained that while PIF’s involvement in various global sports ventures has raised speculation, the chances of them acquiring Liverpool are currently slim.
Wyness pointed out that for PIF to even consider investing in Liverpool, they would have to divest their interests in Newcastle United, which they purchased in 2021. Since then, Newcastle has risen to become a consistent presence in the top half of the Premier League, solidifying their position as one of the league’s competitive clubs.
Addressing the rumors, Wyness said, “PIF would have to sell Newcastle if they were to come in at Liverpool. But we’re a long way from seeing how that would play out.” He acknowledged that there has been a lot of speculation due to PIF’s significant financial resources.
At the moment, there are lots of rumors that I’m hearing because they’ve got lots of money,” he noted. “When you have money, all these rumors fly – you’re either taking over golf, as they’re doing with LIV, or taking over all sorts of sports.”The speculation surrounding a potential Liverpool acquisition by PIF has intensified with the fund’s growing influence in global sports.
Their involvement in the controversial LIV Golf project, and now in talks with the PGA Tour, showcases their ambition to expand their footprint across different sports. This has naturally led to conjecture that they could be eyeing a more prominent role in European football, beyond their current ownership of Newcastle.
However, the complexities of such a transaction cannot be overlooked. The Premier League has stringent ownership rules that would likely prevent PIF from owning two clubs simultaneously.
Therefore, if they were to pursue an investment in Liverpool, they would have to relinquish control of Newcastle. This would be a major move, considering the substantial resources and efforts they have already committed to the club’s development and competitive standing in the league.
Wyness’s comments serve as a reminder that while the financial clout of entities like PIF generates a lot of media buzz and speculation, the practicalities of ownership regulations and the strategic decisions involved make such takeovers less straightforward. Moreover, Liverpool’s current ownership under FSG has been relatively stable, despite occasional rumors of potential sales or investments.
FSG’s willingness to collaborate with PIF on ventures outside of football, such as the PGA-LIV merger, does not necessarily translate to a desire to invite Saudi investment into their football operations.Another point to consider is the stance of Liverpool supporters, who have a strong influence on the club’s identity and operations.
The fanbase has historically been vocal about the ethical considerations of club ownership, as seen with the protests against the European Super League proposal.
A potential takeover by PIF, given the controversies surrounding Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, could spark significant opposition from the fanbase.While PIF’s involvement in global sports continues to grow, Wyness suggests that any serious move towards acquiring Liverpool remains speculative.
The fund’s current focus appears to be on diversifying its sports portfolio, but without clear intentions of expanding its footprint in English football beyond Newcastle.As things stand, the rumors of PIF potentially selling Newcastle to pursue a Liverpool acquisition are just that—rumors. There is no concrete evidence that such a move is in the works.
For now, PIF’s presence in English football is firmly rooted in their ongoing project at Newcastle United, where they continue to invest heavily in the club’s infrastructure and squad to compete at the highest level.In summary, while the idea of PIF acquiring Liverpool makes for intriguing headlines, the reality, as Wyness suggests, is that we are still far from seeing such a scenario unfold.
The complexities of Premier League ownership rules, combined with the strategic decisions involved for both PIF and FSG, mean that a Saudi takeover at Anfield remains a distant prospect for the foreseeable future.
