Liverpool owner Fenway Sports Group (FSG) is in talks with Getafe president Angel Torres about a staged takeover that would add the La Liga club to its portfolio of sports teams.
FSG’s interest in Getafe was first reported in Spain last
month but Torres downplayed the status of the talks earlier this month in an
interview with Spanish radio station COPE, saying there have been rumours about
a takeover since he bought the club in 2002 “and now it’s Liverpool but we’re
not for sale”.
Despite this denial, it is widely known in the industry that
Getafe have been for sale for years and FSG is just the latest to take an
interest in the club, who are about to start their 21st season out of the last
22 in Spain’s top flight.
Over that period they have built a reputation for being
well-run and for developing young talent, such as current Aston Villa
midfielder Emi Buendia, Galatasaray’s on-loan striker Alvaro Morata and their
in-demand Nigerian star Christantus Uche.
Torres has previously put off potential bidders with a
valuation for Getafe of almost £160million ($210million) but he is now lowered
his price tag to a more realistic £100million ($135million).
FSG has been looking to build a multi-club group around
Liverpool since it appointed Michael Edwards as its chief executive of football
in March 2024, two years after the Englishman stood down as the Premier League
side’s sporting director.
Over the last 16 months, FSG has been linked with clubs in
Brazil, France and Spain. Until now, the most advanced talks have taken
place with Bordeaux in France and Malaga in Spain, but Getafe are now
considered to be the best option as FSG has built a good relationship with
Torres.
Getafe is a city 10 miles south of central Madrid and its
football team have twice reached the final of the Copa Del Rey, with a best
league-finish of fifth in 2019.
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