A consortium seeking to buy a stake in Liverpool FC wants to become the club’s majority owner in the future, according to people familiar with the talks.

The group, led by Amit Bhatia, is negotiating with Fenway Sports Group (FSG) to acquire up to 30% of the Premier League club. The investors are also exploring ways to increase their stake over time and eventually take control of Liverpool.

Liverpool is valued at about $6 billion. Any agreement would initially involve a minority investment. However, the long-term goal is to secure a controlling stake.

Bhatia Consortium Targets Long-Term Control

FSG has acknowledged the consortium’s interest. In a previous statement, the company said a consortium led by Bhatia “has expressed interest in making a strategic minority investment.”

The discussions remain ongoing. The parties have not finalised the structure of a deal, and negotiations could still collapse.

The proposed investment would strengthen the Mittal family’s growing presence in global sports. Aditya Mittal, chief executive of ArcelorMittal SA, invested $1 billion in the NBA’s Boston Celtics. He also joined an unsuccessful bid worth more than $9.5 billion for the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks.

Earlier this year, the Mittal family took part in the purchase of a 75% stake in Indian Premier League franchise Rajasthan Royals.

Reports also suggest that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin have been approached about joining the consortium.

US Ownership Model Inspires Strategy

Phased takeovers have become common in American sports. Investors often buy minority stakes before increasing their holdings and taking control.

Alibaba co-founder Joe Tsai followed that path with the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets. Similar deals have also involved the Cleveland Guardians and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Such arrangements remain less common in English football. Premier League rules require approval before anyone can gain control of a club. The Football Governance Act also gives regulators oversight of ownership changes.

FSG Open to Future Exit

FSG bought Liverpool in 2010 for about £300 million. Since then, the club has won two Premier League titles and one UEFA Champions League trophy.

The ownership group explored a sale in 2022 before choosing to sell a minority stake to Dynasty Equity Partners Management.

FSG has previously indicated that it may not own Liverpool forever. In a 2023 interview, co-founder John Henry said: “Will we be in England forever? No.”

That comment continues to fuel speculation about Liverpool’s long-term ownership, especially as new investors position themselves for a larger role at the club.