FSG in line for major windfall amid takeover talks

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All summer long, the usual chorus of Liverpool fans demanding an end to Fenway Sports Group’s tenure has been conspicuously muted.

Far from penny-pinching, the American owners have backed Arne Slot with significant summer reinforcements, and they’ve pledged £20 million toward a major overhaul of the club’s academy facilities.

With Anfield’s future firmly in view, FSG’s stewardship has earned a welcome reprieve from the vocal critics.

Yet while Liverpool’s fanbase enjoys the dividends of FSG’s investment, the Boston-based consortium may be quietly preparing for a far more lucrative opportunity across the Atlantic.

Indeed, the Athletic are reporting that Fenway Sports Group is weighing the sale of the Pittsburgh Penguins, their NHL asset in the United States.

Chicago’s Hoffmann Family – owners of the Florida Everblades – has emerged as a leading bidder, with an asking price of around $1.75 billion.

FSG acquired the Penguins for $900 million in 2021, and despite a dip in attendance due to a rebuilding roster, the franchise’s value has soared thanks to the NHL’s imminent expansion boom.

This could potentially net Liverpool’s owners nearly twice what they paid just four years ago.

The report suggests that FSG’s willingness to entertain bids hinges on whether prospective buyers meet their valuation – though any deal is unlikely to be rushed?

“There will probably be a sale if that price is met,” an FSG source said, requesting anonymity.

With other FSG assets like Liverpool and the Boston Red Sox delivering healthier returns, an offer in the $1.75 billion range could prove too tempting to decline.

David Hoffmann, whose net worth sits at around $2 billion, has publicly stated his ambition to own an NHL franchise, making his family’s interest in the Penguins a natural fit.

While Fenway officially maintains that the Penguins are not for sale – only that a minority partner could buy in – it is suggested that the January call for investors as a sign that full ownership could be on the table.

Of course, John Henry and Co

letting go of the Penguins could serve significant benefits for the Reds.

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