Fenway Sports Group has put Liverpool up for sale so HITC Football has looked back at the Reds’ first transfers under its ownership. Luis Suarez was one of the first arrivals at Anfield.
Well, it is The Athletic which reports Fenway Sports Group (FSG) is inviting offers to sell the Merseyside team. The Boston-based organisation has also created a full sales presentation for potential buyers. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley are also assisting FSG in any sale.
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FSG completed its takeover of Liverpool from former owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett in October 2010 for £300m. It has since helped turn the Anfield outfit’s fortunes around to clinch the 2018/19 Champions League, 2019/20 Premier League and 2021/22 FA Cup titles.
The owners of the Boston Red Sox has also invested in a number of projects at Anfield and their training ground. Liverpool switched from Melwood to a £50m facility in Kirkby, whilst spending £110m to build a new Main Stand and £80m to develop the Anfield Road Stand.
FSG has put Liverpool up for sale after helping to turn the club’s fortunes around
Liverpool were 18th in the Premier League table at the time of FSG’s takeover after a dire start to the season. The Reds had won just one of their opening seven games, drawn three and lost three. They would end the campaign in sixth place with 17 wins and seven draws.
FSG said in a statement to The Athletic that it ‘remains fully committed to the success of Liverpool’. Its stance could include a full sale or inviting new shareholders ‘if it was in the best interests of Liverpool as a club’. The Times reports FSG values Liverpool at over £3bn.
So, a full sale of Liverpool could see FSG net a mammoth profit on their initial investment. It would also yield a profit on its investment into redeveloping Anfield and the Reds’ training facilities. While FSG’s investments in the playing squad also boosted the team’s successes.
Former Liverpool coach Kenny Dalglish immediately benefitted from FSG’s takeover with a club-record transfer for Andy Carroll. Suarez also headed to Anfield in January 2011 in their maiden window under FSG’s ownership after selling Fernando Torres to Chelsea for £50m.
The Blues broke the British transfer record to sign the Spaniard, who hit 81 goals over 142 Reds appearances. But Suarez, far more so than Carroll, proved a huge hit on Merseyside. So now FSG has put Liverpool up for sale, HITC Football looks back at its first transfers…
Suarez was Liverpool’s first transfer under FSG after Hicks and Gillett sold the club
Suarez was Liverpool’s first transfer under FSG’s ownership after Hicks and Gillett sold the club. The Uruguayan secured a deadline day move to Merseyside from Ajax on a five-and-a-half-year deal for £22.5m. De Godenzonen initially rejected a £12.5m bid for the striker.
But their January 2011 arrival would only see out three-and-a-half years of his contract at the Reds. Barcelona raided Anfield in July 2014 to sign the striker for £75m on the back of him ending the Premier League term as the top-scorer (31) and the PFA Player of the Year.
Suarez also laid on 17 assists alongside his 31 goals during the 2013/14 top-flight season. It took him to 46 assists and 82 goals in 133 appearances across all competitions for the club. The 2012 EFL Cup-winning forward striking 31 goals also saw him secure the Golden Boot.
Suarez went on to win the Champions League in his debut season at the Camp Nou outfit. He also lifted four La Liga titles and four Copa del Reys before adding a top-flight title with Atletico Madrid. The striker also sealed the 2021/22 Primera Division at Club de Nacional.
Carroll followed Suarez to Anfield as Liverpool’s second signing under FSG
Carroll followed Suarez to Anfield after Liverpool paid Newcastle United a club-record fee of £35m. FSG has since broken the Reds’ record again after signing Virgil van Dijk for £75m from Southampton in January 2018. Darwin Nunez may set the new record at up to £85m.
Liverpool raided Newcastle for Carroll in another deadline-beating deal in January 2011 to replace Torres’ goals. The towering 6 ft 4 marksman had scored 14 and created 10 goals in 41 Premier League games on Tyneside. Yet he only managed to score six in 44 at the Reds.
Carroll would depart Anfield to join West Ham United permanently in June 2013 after one season on loan for £15m. He had only scored 11 and created six goals in 58 appearances in all competitions on Merseyside. He went on to hit 34 and create 17 in 142 in east London.
Newcastle later re-signed their ex-academy talent in August 2019 following his release by West Ham. But Carroll only managed to score once and assist four goals in 37 further top-flight matches. He has since gone on to join Reading, West Brom and, now, Reading again.
Henderson moved to Merseyside from Sunderland and became the Reds’ captain
Liverpool were quick to strike a £20m deal with Sunderland in June 2011 to gain a 20-year-old Jordan Henderson’s services. The 70-cap England international remains at Anfield now at 32 years old. He is also the Reds’ captain after 465 appearances across all competitions.
Liverpool finally signed Adam after a six-month pursuit of the Scotland midfielder
The Anfield hierarchy finally got their target in July 2011 as Charlie Adam completed an up to £7.5m move from Blackpool. Liverpool had initially targeted the 26-cap former Scotland international that January. But the Seasiders refused to accept the Reds’ up to £6.5m offer.
Yet for all of the Reds’ efforts, Adam only remained on Merseyside for one season before a £4m move to Stoke City in August 2012. The Dundee native had offered 10 assists and two goals in 37 games for Liverpool. Yet he was not a part of new boss Brendan Rodgers’ plans.
Adam went on to enjoy seven years at Stoke before joining Reading for the 2019/20 term. He then returned home to Dundee FC, the club where the midfielder started his career in 1999. Two years at Dens Park would precede the 36-year-old then retiring this September.
FSG sanctioned a Bosman deal to hire Doni following his release by Roma
FSG sanctioned a Bosman deal for Liverpool to hire Alexander Doni following his release by Roma in July 2011. Yet the Brazilian only spent 18 months and played just four times at the Reds. He re-joined his boyhood team Botafogo in January 2013 before retiring that August.
Now that FSG has put Liverpool up for sale, Liverpool will hope their next influx of signings with new owners are more along the lines of Suarez and Henderson than Carroll and Doni.
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