Amazon founder Jeff Bezos closing in on a deal to buy a roughly one-third stake in Liverpool, according to Sky News; Liverpool's controlling shareholder Fenway Sports Group preparing announcement this week; consortium is led by Amit Bhatia, son-in-law of steel billionaire Lakshmi Mittal
Sky News understands a consortium including the Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is closing in on a deal to buy a roughly one-third stake in Liverpool.
Sky News has learnt that Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the Anfield club's controlling shareholder since 2010, is preparing to make an announcement about a transaction as soon as this week.
The deal will see Mr Bezos participate in an investor group alongside Eduardo Saverin, one of the co-founders of the social network Facebook.
The syndicate is led by Amit Bhatia, the son-in-law of steel billionaire Lakshmi Mittal and until recently a shareholder in Championship club Queens Park Rangers.
One source indicated that an announcement was expected in the coming days, although they cautioned that it could slip into next week.
If completed, the deal would install a trio of the world's wealthiest individuals as co-owners of the Reds, one of the most successful teams in the history of English football.
Mr Bezos alone has a fortune estimated by Forbes at over £207bn ($280bn), while Mr Saverin is said to be worth over £23.7bn ($32bn).
Their investment in Liverpool will reportedly value the club at £4.4bn ($6bn), making it one of the sport's richest-ever deals.
Sky Sports News has contacted Liverpool and FSG for comment.
While Mr Bezos has not previously been linked to deals in football, his prospective involvement in the Liverpool FC consortium underlines the extent to which sport is now viewed by wealthy investors as an asset class in its own right.
Mr Saverin, who is 44 years old, was part of a consortium which assembled an unsuccessful takeover bid for Chelsea FC during the 2022 auction triggered by Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
One insider said the deal was now expected to be slightly larger than previously thought, potentially involving a stake of over 30 per cent.
Nevertheless, if its valuation hits £4.4bn ($6bn), the deal will reinforce the huge financial success that FSG has enjoyed during its 16 years as the club's owner.
The Boston Red Sox owner acquired Liverpool for just £300m with the club in a troubled state financially.