FSG chief responded to the rumors suggesting that the owners of Liverpool are ‘considering’ record takeover bid…

FSG executive addresses speculation regarding Liverpool owners contemplating record takeover offer.

The chief executive of FSG has addressed the rumors surrounding the possibility of Liverpool’s owners considering a record-breaking takeover offer.

Reports have surfaced suggesting that Liverpool’s ownership group is considering a staggering £4.6 billion bid as they aim to expand their presence in one of the globe’s most prominent leagues.

The Fenway Sports Group, which owns Liverpool, has refuted claims that they are contemplating a move to acquire the NBA’s Boston Celtics.

Led by John W. Henry, the Boston-based organization acquired a majority stake in Liverpool in 2010 and also owns the MLB’s Boston Red Sox and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins.

Earlier this year, they were part of a consortium that invested £2.3 billion into the PGA Tour.

FSG has achieved significant success at Anfield through strategic transfer dealings and a key managerial choice; Jurgen Klopp has guided the team to both the Premier League title and the Champions League trophy during their tenure.

Any prospective ownership group looking to enter the NBA would need substantial financial resources, as acquiring a franchise like the Celtics or establishing an expansion team is expected to exceed £4 billion.

This past summer appeared to present an opportunity for FSG to venture into professional basketball. Following their recent victory in the Larry O’Brien trophy, the Celtics were put up for sale by their majority ownership group, led by Wyc Grousbeck.

With an estimated valuation of $6 billion (£4.6 billion) and located in New England—an area familiar to FSG—the New York Post reported that the group was ‘considering’ a bid for the record-holding 18-time champions.

Should a deal materialize, it would set a record for the highest price ever paid for a team in the league, potentially surpassing the Washington Commanders, which sold for $6.05 billion.

However, FSG CEO Sam Kennedy has dismissed these rumors, stating to 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.”

An NBA franchise has previously caught the attention of the firm, indicating that there may still be potential developments on this front.

With the league planning to grow from 30 to 32 teams in the future, Gerry Cardinale, founder and managing partner of RedBird Capital, which holds an 11% stake in FSG, has identified Las Vegas as a promising location for establishing NBA operations.

FSG has ties to the current Los Angeles Lakers, historically known as the Celtics’ fierce rivals, and to NBA legend LeBron James, who became a partner in 2021.

Cardinale mentioned these connections while discussing future opportunities. “We’re exploring the possibility of bringing an NBA expansion team here in collaboration with LeBron and Fenway Sports Group,” Cardinale remarked in 2023.

“We initiated this project three years ago. At that time, the valuation for an NBA team was around $3 billion. Today, the estimated cost for an NBA expansion team ranges from $5.5 billion to $6 billion.

“I’m uncertain if I can navigate that financial landscape. Perhaps we are approaching a pivotal moment, suggesting that if we wish to maintain a steady increase in these valuations, we might require a different kind of investment.

“It’s possible that I’ve outgrown this role, and it may be time to pass the responsibility to a sovereign wealth fund or a provider with a lower cost of capital. We might have reached that juncture.”