After refusing to return to Liverpool as Sporting Director, Michael Edwards sought a bigger role. He became CEO of the football division, responsible not only for running the Anfield club but also for the development of the Fenway Sports Group in soccer.
He will still be responsible for Liverpool’s reinforcements and player contracts, but the scope of his role will also include the acquisition of new clubs with the potential to create synergies and increase their value in the future in order to create a multi-club network and bring them under the FSG umbrella.
According to Football365, Michael Edwards has already begun making moves and has held discussions with Ligue 1 side Toulouse to see if a deal can be reached. The club is currently in 11th place this season, with 29 points.
The trend of owning multiple clubs is gaining attention among owners, with examples including City Football Group, owner of Manchester City, and Clearlake Capital, which acquired a majority stake in Strasbourg after buying Chelsea.
The work of an astute former sporting director is also important to accelerate the multi-club network. The background to this report is also related to the fact that Redbird Capital, which owns 85% of the French club, has an 11% stake in FSG.
Liverpool’s ownership group is in the process of exploring possibilities, not only for Toulouse. Will a new club under their umbrella really be announced this year…?