EXCLUSIVE: Several verified sources from Qatar claim that FSG representatives met Qatari representatives in Boston on Monday night. The meeting lasted for three hours. Due to the fact that their acquisition offer for Manchester United has failed, Qatari officials are keen to acquire a premier league club with a rich history. What’s more, FSG has requested a SECOND meeting with Qatari officials.
Although the summer transfer window is now closed, some football fans are now more interested in what is happening off the field.
Manchester United has focused on what is going on behind the scenes while Liverpool has been dealing with interest in star player Mohamed Salah. The club was placed up for sale back in November by United’s owners, the Glazer family, who are extremely unpopular with supporters.
According to a recent Daily Mail report, they appear to have taken it off the market and are now asking for an astounding $12.5 billion (£10 billion/€11.6 billion) valuation. Last year, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the club’s owners, looked into selling Liverpool.
However, FSG emphasized that it would not be a complete sale and reaffirmed its dedication to the team. Liverpool was valued at about $5 billion (£4 billion/€4.7 billion).
In contrast, the Glazer family recently increased their asking price for United, which was previously as high as $7.5 billion (£6 billion/€7 billion). There have been multiple rounds of bidding over the past ten months from interested parties, including Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
At first, it appeared as though Sheikh Jassim would win out in a full takeover that would reportedly cost $7.5 billion. The Glazer camp, it is now alleged, has chosen to remove the club from the market and is looking for a greater price.
According to Dave Powell of the Liverpool ECHO, the announcement that United won’t be sold after all had a detrimental effect on the club’s share price, which fell by 18%. The share price is currently at its lowest level since early June.
The Red Devils’ potential future value is what led to the decision to postpone selling the team until 2025. Premier League teams have the chance to develop long-term value through a variety of revenue sources.
A noteworthy change is the redesigned 32-team Club World Cup, which will begin in 2025. New revenue sources, including as prize money, commercial earnings, and broadcast rights shares, will be advantageous to participating clubs.
The top clubs will view this rivalry as extremely important, and it is anticipated to generate more global interest. The following cycle of TV revenue is another element that affects the prospective future worth of Premier League clubs.
The existing agreement is valid from 2022 to 2025, and discussions regarding the distribution of rights for the next cycle are most likely to take place in 2024. The Premier League has been gaining in popularity around the world, and for the first time, the value of foreign rights has surpassed that of domestic ones.
With the World Cup being held in North America in 2026, the value of the US TV deal alone, which was worth $2.5 billion (£2 billion/€2.3 billion), is anticipated to rise. Additionally, an increase in domestic rights is anticipated.
Because of the uncertainty surrounding the epidemic, the earlier agreement remained at the same level. The value of domestic rights, though, is projected to rise as the market stabilizes and consumer confidence rises, providing top-flight teams with a big cash boost.
These elements help to understand why the Glazer family could have thought twice about selling United. Keeping the club is a lucrative choice due to the possibility of future expansion and increased profits from events and TV partnerships.
Similarly, despite rumors that can circulate on social media, Liverpool’s owners FSG have no desire to sell. They are taking their time to investigate options for a minority partner who can contribute to their financial growth in an increasingly competitive environment since they are aware of the club’s genuine value as an asset.
