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Liverpool owners FSG plan to buy sister club in Europe after teaming up with ‘Moneyball’ baseball chief Billy Beane
Liverpool’s American owners are planning to buy a sister club in Europe after teaming up with baseball executive Billy Beane – the subject of Hollywood movie ‘Moneyball’.
Fenway Sports Group seem to be taking a leaf from Manchester City’s book, with their plans to expand their football empire now revealed.
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According to , FSG have begun talks with Beane’s RedBall Acquisition Corp, who are aiming to buy a 25 per cent stake in John W Henry’s Boston-based company.
The deal, it is claimed, would lead to Liverpool's owners being publicly listed, with the aim of becoming ‘the most powerful international sports conglomerate’.
It would also take FSG’s valuation to $8billion [about £6.2bn], and buying a European football club is one of their first points on the agenda.
RedBall was formed by Beane – together with founder of private equity firm RedBird Capital Partners, Gerry Cardinale – earlier in 2020 and raised $575million [about £445m] in August with the aim of acquiring a sports franchise.
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Former Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore has been appointed to the board of RedBall.
There is a long-standing friendship between Henry and Beane, which fans of baseball and the 'Moneyball' book and film will know well.
Beane was approached by Henry in 2002 with a $12.5m offer to become the new general manager of historic MLB franchise Boston Red Sox, only for the former player-turned-executive to remain at Oakland Athletics – where he is still in charge.
Beane also has contacts in English football, and recommended that Liverpool appoint Damien Comolli as their first director of football shortly after FSG bought the Anfield club in October 2010.
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However, should this new merger with Fenway happen, it is said Beane would quit his role with the Oakland A’s and quit the sport of baseball all together to avoid a conflict of interest.
As part of the merger, Beane would focus on broadening FSG’s sporting interests, which presently includes nine-time World Series champions Boston Red Sox and the Roush Fenway Racing NASCAR team.
Beane – who was played by Brad Pitt in the 2011 Oscar-nominated movie – was part of a consortium that bought Barnsley in 2017, and also has a minority share in the Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.
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