BREAKING NEWS: Live from Anfield, ‘I’m Hearing Rumours’ – Keith Wyness: Mega-rich owners could sell club & buy Liverpool. According to reports, John Henry, the principal owner of Liverpool’s parent company Fenway Sports Group (FSG), forced and likely to sell club with a potential Saudi Arabian takeover of Liverpool FC..

In a recent episode of Football Insider’s *Inside Track* podcast, Keith Wyness, former CEO of Everton and current football consultant, shared his view on the rumors surrounding a potential Saudi Arabian takeover of Liverpool FC. Wyness, who was at Goodison Park from 2004 to 2009 and now advises elite clubs through his consultancy, clarified that Saudi investment in Liverpool is still unlikely.

According to a September 10 report from *ESPN*, John Henry, the principal owner of Liverpool’s parent company Fenway Sports Group (FSG), has been working with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) to facilitate the merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. These discussions, which occurred in New York earlier this month, focused on a $1 billion Saudi investment in the PGA Tour.

Despite Henry’s involvement with PIF officials on this project, Wyness, speaking to *Football Insider* on September 18, stressed that Liverpool is unlikely to receive any direct Saudi investment. He explained that while PIF’s global sports ventures have sparked speculation, the chances of them buying Liverpool are slim at this point.

Wyness noted that for PIF to consider investing in Liverpool, they would need to sell their stake in Newcastle United, which they purchased in 2021. Since then, Newcastle has become a consistent top-half Premier League club, strengthening their competitive position.

Commenting on the rumors, Wyness stated, “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 also acknowledged the speculation due to PIF’s significant financial backing, saying, “At the moment, there are lots of rumors that I’m hearing because they’ve got lots of money. 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 about PIF potentially acquiring Liverpool has grown as the fund expands its global sports influence. Their involvement in the controversial LIV Golf project, and now in talks with the PGA Tour, highlights their ambition to broaden their reach across different sports. Naturally, this has led to rumors that they may be looking to increase their involvement in European football beyond Newcastle.

However, such a transaction would be complicated. Premier League ownership rules would likely prevent PIF from owning two clubs at once. Therefore, to pursue an investment in Liverpool, PIF would need to relinquish control of Newcastle, a major decision given the resources and effort they’ve invested in the club’s development.

Wyness’s comments underline that, while the financial power of entities like PIF generates media buzz, ownership regulations and strategic decisions make takeovers more complex than they seem. Moreover, Liverpool’s current ownership under FSG has been relatively stable, despite occasional rumors of potential sales or investments. FSG’s collaboration with PIF on ventures outside of football, such as the PGA-LIV merger, doesn’t necessarily indicate a desire for Saudi investment in their football operations.

Another key consideration is the stance of Liverpool supporters, who have a strong influence on the club’s identity. The fanbase has historically been vocal about ethical issues in club ownership, as seen with their protests against the European Super League. A potential PIF takeover, given Saudi Arabia’s human rights controversies, could provoke significant opposition from the fanbase.

While PIF’s global sports involvement is growing, Wyness suggests that a serious move to acquire Liverpool remains speculative. Their current focus appears to be on diversifying their sports portfolio without clear plans to expand further in English football beyond Newcastle.

At present, rumors of PIF selling Newcastle to pursue Liverpool remain just that—rumors. There is no concrete evidence to suggest such a move is in progress. PIF’s presence in English football is firmly rooted in their project at Newcastle, where they continue investing heavily in the club’s infrastructure and squad.

In conclusion, while the idea of PIF acquiring Liverpool is intriguing, the reality, as Wyness indicates, is that such a scenario is still far off. The complexities of Premier League ownership rules, along with the strategic choices for both PIF and FSG, make a Saudi takeover at Anfield a distant possibility for now.