Liverpool and Chelsea ‘focused for Saudi takeover’ as Newcastle questions requested
Chelsea and Liverpool could be next on the shopping list for oil-rich Saudi Arabia as they look to expand their Premier League portfolio, sparking questions about their stake in Newcastle United.
The Saudi-based Public Investment Fund (PIF) sealed their £300m takeover of Newcastle in October 2021. The fund, which manages assets and companies worth nearly a trillion pounds, invests money on behalf of the Saudi government.
Despite being given a hefty war chest for their first transfer window in January 2022, the Magpies have been stymied by the Premier League’s PSR regulations since then, putting a damper on their ambitions to disrupt the traditional ‘Big Six’.
According to The Independent, there’s a sense that the Saudi power players are now mulling over taking control of a bigger club – and rumours are rife that Chelsea and Liverpool are among those being considered.
Liverpool has been under the stewardship of the FSG since 2010, with Tom Werner and John Henry preferring to take a backseat role in the running of the club. The American duo have also expressed an interest in welcoming outside investment, fuelling speculation they could be open to selling shares.
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Chelsea has been owned by BlueCo since May 2022 after Todd Boehly’s consortium gave the green light to their £4.25bn takeover, which included a £1.75bn investment pledge. However, Boehly and co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali have come under fire for a series of major decisions within the club.
While supporters have voiced their opposition to the Clearlake Capital regime, it’s yet to be seen if a Saudi-backed group would be accepted in their place. American tycoon Boehly maintains a favourable rapport with officials in the Arabian Gulf, reports the Express.
The two parties previously negotiated the transfers of N’Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy to the Saudi Pro League in the summer of 2023.
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However, the 49-year-old financier has made it clear he has no plans to sell his stake, as he shares an ambitious 10-year vision for the club with Clearlake.
Any Saudi involvement in owning a second Premier League club would undoubtedly spark queries from other top-tier clubs due to the existing regulations.
The Owners’ and Directors’ Test prohibits anyone from controlling more than one English league club’s management. Furthermore, anyone who owns over 30 per cent of a Premier League club is ineligible to own another club.
This could also trigger another review of the Saudi government’s involvement with Newcastle, which has been under scrutiny since the PIF’s takeover three years ago.
