One of the partners in Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) is considering purchasing a stake in another European giant – Paris Saint-Germain.
American investment firm Arctos Sports Partners, who took a stake in FSG to become a partner back in 2020, is looking to acquire a minority stake in PSG, according to CBS and Sky Sports – as reported by the Liverpool Echo.
PSG’s owners, Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), has been looking to sell a stake in the French club since last year.
QSI is seeking outside investment to help fund the ongoing project in Paris, and potentially the building of a new stadium.
The Parc des Princes, owned by the Paris city council, has been PSG’s home since they entered the top-flight in 1974.
But the club is considering a number of options, including purchasing the Parc des Princes and renovating it, buying another stadium such as the Stade de France or building a completely new ground.
The potential costs involved in building a new stadium has led to QSI seeking outside investment, with Arctos Sports Partners one of the firms interested in purchasing a stake in PSG.
According to the Echo, Arctos already has a considerable number of sporting investments in its portfolio, with indirect stakes in the FSG-owned Liverpool, Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Penguins.
It has also taken equity in NBA teams such as the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings and Italian Serie A side Atalanta, and has a stake in Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment – the owners of both the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Devils.
The firm launched its second investment fund in 2021 and is expected to close on it in the coming months with a $2.5bn (£2bn) target achieved.
That fund will be spent on various investment opportunities in sport, potentially including a minority stake in PSG.
QSI are looking to sell between 10 and 15 per cent of the club at a €4bn (£3.2bn) valuation, the report adds.
Like QSI are in Paris, FSG are also currently in the process of seeking outside investment at Liverpool.
However, owner John W Henry has already ruled out a full sale of the Merseyside club following speculation FSG were looking to sell earlier this season.
“Will we be in England forever? No. Are we selling LFC? No. Are talking with investors about LFC? Yes,” Henry told BostonSportsJournal.com.
“Will something happen there? I believe so, but it won’t be a sale. Have we sold anything in the past 20-plus years?”