Sheikh Khalifa the next possible owner of Liverpool Football Club
Reports have been circulating for a long time that the Liverpool Football Club is for sale but no potential buyer has yet stepped up for the bid. Current Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and George Gillet have left Chairman Martin Broughton in charge of the sale.
The owners have told that it will take around 12 to 18 months for the sale to take place. However reliable sources have reported that Liverpool, which dates back to 1892, might be sold sooner than later.
These recent developments have come to the fore after previous owner David Moores said that he regretted selling ‘the Reds’ to the financially unstable American owners. The Mersey siders are currently in a debt of 351 million pounds but their market value continues to be around the 650 million pounds mark. After surviving under a massive debt, the club is just left with 5 million pounds in this summer to rebuild a squad for the next season. But that’s not all. Rafael Benitez has left the club and as the trust evaporates, the players too are having their doubts about remaining with the club in the upcoming season.
Rumour has it that Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who is the current President of the United Arab Emirates, is interested in bidding for the club. He happens to be amongst the richest Arab men in the world and is wealthier than his brother Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as well. They both seem to share an interest in similar things as his brother is the owner of Manchester City FC.
The Sheikh Khalifa is known to be amongst the 3rd richest royalty of the world. His total wealth accumulates to nearly $19 billion and apart from that, he has some major shares in developments around the globe, especially in Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates.
The transformation Manchester City has seen during last season with the flow of cash is humongous. If Anfield goes through the same transformation, they would need a very similar personality to do it for them. If Sheikh Khalifa fully instigates this process, then eventually, he would have more control, money and power than either Manchester City or the Russian Roman Abromovich's Chelsea. The Sheikh would then stand encountering Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona.
After a dismissal season, the club finished 7th in the English Premier League and was humiliated earlier in the Champions League as well. It has barley qualified for the FA and Europa Cup too.
The Anfield is surrounded in a difficult situation with the coach departing within no time. On the other hand, players like Javier Macherano, Yossi Benayoun, Fernando Torres and even Steven Gerrard are thinking about making a transfer. In these circumstances, the club is bound to go to the dogs.
The main figure head that is left at Anfield is the loyal Gerrard who is getting 80 million pounds from the Real Madrid team on Jose Mourinho’s liking. Other players are looking for their way out too.
After the end of this season, Benitez and the players were calmed down by the Liverpool owners that there will be ample funds for the team. However, Benitez’s departure clearly shows that until a new leadership is brought to the club, there is no future. The Liverpool management is reckoning to sign in a new coach. Either the decision will go in favour of Kenny Dalglish or Roy Hudgson.
There is a strong chance for this deal to be conclusive. In recent times, another offer was made from the Abu Dhabi group which made a bid on Manchester United but the Glazer family refused.
For the ‘Reds’, success in the next season is extremely important to stop the inevitable sale of their club. If it does happen, a better outcome for new signings is suspected who can easily adjust to the new environment. Secondly, worthier signings can take pace with more money being pumped into the Liverpool club.
Tags: