Liverpool Must Use Potential Investment to Plot for Long Term Under Jurgen Klopp

Emerging in the immediate aftermath of Liverpool’s 2-0 defeat away to Burnley on Saturday afternoon, reports of possible investment from a Chinese consortium served to highlight the bigger picture on Merseyside once more.

Sky News reported interest from state-backed group Chinese Everbright, who were looking to secure a stake in the club from current owner Fenway Sports Group:

Everbright, a financial services conglomerate, parts of which are listed on the Hong Kong and Shanghai stock exchanges, is working with PCP Capital Partners, an investment and advisory firm, on plans to acquire a substantial shareholding in Liverpool alongside Fenway Sports Group.

Insiders said on Saturday that their proposals were not yet finalised but added that the consortium could also include investment from other Chinese state-owned parties.

Silk Road Finance Corp, an investment firm whose directors include John Thornton, a former Goldman Sachs and HSBC director, is also thought to be involved in the consortium’s discussions.

Sources said that any investment was likely to be structured as a joint venture or partnership rather than an outright takeover.

This was corroborated on Sunday night, when the Daily Express’ Paul Joyce reported that Everbright “value the club in excess of £800 million,” though he stressed “there has been no bid as yet and the process is in the early stages.”

FSG figurehead Tom Werner had previously told the Liverpool Echo’s James Pearce that the club is “not for sale,” but later added that “under the right conditions and absolutely with the right partner, we could look at some small investment stake in the club.”

With talks ongoing over naming rights for Anfield’s new main stand, suggestions that outside investment could see a stake in the club change hands are feasible—but the question of where the money would be directed remains to be seen, as manager Jurgen Klopp seems content with building for success on a tight budget.

So far this summer, the German has added seven new players to his Liverpool squad, while a host of others have left the club on permanent and temporary deals.

Marko Grujic, a January signing who spent the rest of 2015/16 on loan with Red Star Belgrade, has linked up with his Reds team-mates for the new campaign, joined by six summer additions in Alex Manninger, Loris Karius, Joel Matip, Ragnar Klavan, Georginio Wijnaldum and Sadio Mane.

Wijnaldum and Mane represent the most significant portion of Klopp’s pre-season outlay, with their moves from Newcastle United and Southampton, respectively, totalling £55 million, while Klavan (from Augsburg) and Karius (from Mainz 05) were acquired for a combined £8.9 million.

Manninger and Matip arrived on free transfers, after their contracts with Augsburg and Schalke 04 expired in July, though Liverpool are likely to have paid a sizeable signing-on fee for the latter.

Klopp’s six summer signings mean Liverpool have paid clubs £63.9 million so far, with further additions possible before the transfer window closes on August 31—but, remarkably, they have still made a profit.

These purchases were largely covered by three high-profile departures, with Christian Benteke’s £32 million move to Crystal Palace on Saturday ensuring Liverpool were out of the red at this stage, as the Belgian joined Joe Allen (£13 million, to Stoke City) and Jordon Ibe (£15 million, to Bournemouth) through the exit.

So far this summer, Liverpool have seen 10 players who were in and around the first team last season leave the club in permanent deals:

Christian Benteke, to Crystal Palace: £32 million Jordon Ibe, to Bournemouth: £15 million Joe Allen, to Stoke City: £13 million Brad Smith, to Bournemouth: £6 …

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