Decision on sale of FSG Liverpool to Qatar as LeBron recruits Steph Curry
Liverpool are once again the target of Qatar sale rumours, and the reporter delivers his one-word verdict. FSG co-owner LeBron James spoke with Steph Curry.
LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers shakes hands with Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors after Game 6 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals at Crypto.com Arena on May 12, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. FSG co-owner LeBron James has ‘recruited’ Steph Curry for his latest project as rumors of a Liverpool sale continue to swirl. Liverpool owner FSG apparently came out of the transfer window with little credit in the bank. At one point, the Americans showed ambition by making a gigantic offer for Moisés Caicedo, and the completed trade fulfilled the promise of rebuilding the midfield.
That said, there are persistent voices who argue that Liverpool can no longer be truly competitive under FSG in the era of state-backed super clubs. But even if that were true, achieving such “competitiveness” would be too high a price to pay for many – while others would point to the silverware of the last half-decade and claim that the Anfield outfit are, in fact, still fully operational. . keep your own. So it is clear that the problem is complex. Any Qatari interest in taking over FSG would certainly be fraught with controversy – and those rumors have resurfaced this week, although one reliable reporter gave a blunt verdict. Elsewhere in the FSG squad, there was an unusual incident where one player trained with another team – playing in his own league. Meanwhile, co-owner LeBron James is staying busy off the court, claiming he “lured” Steph Curry and others to the Super League. Liverpool’s latest sale
It was claimed this week that Qatar is “stepping up its efforts to acquire Liverpool Football Club”. Self-described sports journalist François Plateau claimed on X that the Gulf nation is fed up with the Glazers’ approach to selling Manchester United and has made a “sudden change”.
The news is likely to be met with equal parts horror and excitement among Liverpool fans amid the divisive and confusing landscape of modern-day supporters. But anyway, the ECHO’s Dave Powell was quick to put the story to rest. Citing the original tweet, he gave a simple one-word verdict: “No.” Powell later clarified in tweets in which he shared his understanding that there is nothing imminent about the investment and that the potential changes are still a partnership, not an outright sale.
Liverpool.com says: Football and politics are perhaps more intertwined than ever and Qatar’s legal approach would certainly create mixed feelings. At least most would certainly agree that a solution would be better to keep FSG competitive. More foreign investment seems the best tool for this, and the lack of movement on this front is disappointing. But at the same time, Powell says that FSG is looking for a real active partner, not just a private equity fund: it seems to offer the best hope of enabling Liverpool to sustainably compete at the highest level in the future.
LeBron James is “recruiting” Steph Curry
Of course, FSG has previously accepted partners. By far the highest profile is LeBron James. LeBron, who was originally part owner of Liverpool, traded it for part of FSG. He later increased his investment in exchange for ceding lifetime control of his marketing and sponsorship opportunities to Fenway Sports Management. The NBA is currently in the off-season, but James is as busy as ever. According to The Athletic, he is essentially ‘recruiting’ stars for the USA Olympic basketball team for Paris 2024. The Olympics hasn’t always attracted the top NBA stars. But LeBron is ‘ready to commit’ ahead of Paris — and has also spoken to Curry, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum and Draymond Green, drawing commitments from them too.
Liverpool.com says: LeBron seems intent on putting together another ‘dream team’, in what is likely to be his final Olympic Games. He has two gold medals to his name from Beijing and London, but has not competed since then. From an FSG perspective, seeing the draw of LeBron James among fellow professionals will be encouraging. It’s widely believed that the Liverpool owners eventually want to add an NBA franchise, headed up by the league’s all-time leading scorer, and it seems likely he would boast major pull.
Liverpool profited from a LeBron James crossover range alongside Nike last season. A ‘last dance’ at the Olympics would offer another spike in global popularity, one on which Anfield officials may wish to somehow try and cash in. Pittsburgh Penguins star walks
Like the NBA, the NHL is currently in the offseason. But the preseason starts pretty soon — and in between are “captain’s skates,” player-organized practices where coaches can’t be there. Despite the informal setup, these skates are usually done in teams: all FSG Pittsburgh Penguins players train together before the actual preseason begins. However, eagle-eyed observers spotted longtime defenseman Kris Letang skating with the Montreal Canadiens (via Pittsburgh Hockey Now).
Even weirder, Letang mostly wore Penguins gear and the inside of a Canadiens jersey. However, the 36-year-old should return to pre-season duty soon. Liverpool.com says: Well, it’s a bit weird. But it all seems harmless enough. Letang is from Montreal. Although he has no official ties to the Canadiens, their GM is his former agent. And while FSG may have wanted the veteran to participate in Penguins skate practice, there was speculation that his involvement with another NHL team was approved by the board.