Amazon founder Jeff Bezos nearing deal for stake in Liverpool – reports
By Phil Blanche, Press Association
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is part of a consortium closing in on a deal to buy a minority stake in Liverpool, according to reports.
According to Sky News, the consortium led by Amit Bhatia, the son-in-law of steel billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, will buy around one third of the Premier League club.
Bezos, one of the world’s richest men with an estimated fortune of £192billion according to Forbes, will be part of an investor group alongside Eduardo Savarin.
The 44-year-old Brazilian businessman was one of the co-founders of the social network Facebook and part of an unsuccessful consortium bid to acquire Chelsea in 2022.
Sky News says an announcement by Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the Anfield club’s controlling shareholder since 2010, could be made as soon as this week.
FSG sold a minority stake in Liverpool to investment firm Dynasty in 2023 and confirmed last month that Bhatia’s group had approached them to discuss investing in the club.
The Boston-based company, which also owns the Boston Red Sox and the Pittsburgh Penguins, bought Liverpool in 2010 for £300million. Forbes recently valued the club at £4.6billion.
The Press Association has approached Liverpool for comment.
Liverpool are expected to be busy in the transfer market before the window closes on September 1.
New manager Andoni Iraola said Liverpool “cannot sustain the level we want for all of the game” after watching his side lose a second consecutive pre-season friendly on Sunday after holding a two-goal lead.
The 3-2 defeat to Monaco at Anfield came on the back of Leeds overturning a 2-0 deficit on Liverpool’s American tour to win 4-2.
Uruguay defender Ronald Araujo is close to arriving on a season-long loan from Barcelona, and Liverpool have also held talks with Paris St Germain over a move for Bradley Barcola.
However, the two clubs are understood to be some way apart in terms of valuation with the European champions wanting around £145m for the France forward.
