What potential Bezos deal would mean for Liverpool

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The man in question is billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who is part of a consortium that is in advanced talks to buy a 30% stake in the club.Bezos, according to Forbes, has a personal fortune of about $257bn (£190bn).To put that into context, last year Liverpool announced record revenues of £703m - but Bezos is worth 270 times that.With scant information about the group's plans or long-term intentions, supporters have cause for caution - especially with the end of the Hicks-Gillette era still vividly in the minds of many. Will it be the club, the consortium or Liverpool's owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG)?This is what the investment would mean in reality - and why it could happen.When FSG bought Liverpool for £300m in 2010 the club were, according to CEO Billy Hogan, "literally on the brink of bankruptcy".On top of the purchase price, FSG have since facilitated intra-group loans of about £218m, meaning a total outlay of about £518m.Sixteen years later, the proposed sale of 30% would mean FSG received £1.35bn, with the club valued at £4.5bn - 13 times what it was worth in 2010 when FSG bought it from Hicks and Gillette."It's a great deal for FSG," football finance expert Kieran Maguire told BBC Sport."They generate more than £1bn from the deal and still keep control - this represents the best of both worlds."It has required investment off the pitch as well as success on it, including building a new training ground and redeveloping the stadium.A 30-year title drought was ended in 2019-20, another championship was won in 2024-25 and a sixth Champions League was claimed in 2018-19.This is not the first time outside money has been accepted by FSG, with global sports investment firm Dynasty Equity purchasing 3% for an undisclosed amount in 2023.Maguire added: "This follows the approach of City Football Group of letting in minority investors to recoup the original purchase price and more."But even if the minority investment goes through, the Premier League's Squad Cost Ratio financial rules mean supporters should not expect Liverpool to start spending a lot more on transfer fees.Funds to spend on transfers are directly related to income generated via commercial activities rather than an owner's wealth."The deal could be a straight share sale by FSG to the new group, in which case there would be no financial implications for the club itself," Maguire added.

But would Liverpool be a status symbol or a true investment? But even at this point Hogan says there is "a huge opportunity still" to invest in "the biggest and most popular sport in the world".It taps into the reason why US money continues to pour into the English game - namely prestige, and the chance to grow not just in this country but around the world too.Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin, who is reported to be worth $32bn (£23.7bn), is also involved is the consortium.Then there is Amit Bhatia, who had been a director and co-owner of Queens Park Rangers for the last 18 years until he relinquished his ownership stake in the Championship club on 21 July.It is against Football Association regulations to have a substantial interest in more than one club, so the timing of Bhatia's move appeared to confirm he is involved in the Liverpool deal.

Hogan has suggested there is no prospect of FSG entertaining a full sale of the club, but Maguire believes if the initial investment goes well, that could change."If Bezos et al like the kudos and attention that part owning as big a brand as Liverpool brings," Maguire said. It's as simple as that."So while the investment would put Liverpool in a very strong position financially, it wouldn't necessarily make a marked different to their spending power - and might sit uneasily with at least some of the club's fans.