Newcastle United’s owners, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), would have to sell the club if they wanted to invest in Liverpool, according to former Everton chief Keith Wyness.
Speaking on Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness, who previously served as CEO at Goodison Park, downplayed the likelihood of a Saudi takeover at Anfield, stating that any move is still a long way from becoming a reality.
Wyness’s comments come amid growing speculation, fueled by reports that Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the parent company of Liverpool, has been in discussions with PIF over other business ventures.
According to ESPN, FSG owner John Henry recently joined forces with PIF to broker the merger of the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, with talks held earlier this month over a potential $1 billion Saudi investment in the PGA Tour.
Despite these connections, Wyness stressed that the potential for Saudi investment in Liverpool remains unlikely for now. He explained that PIF would first need to sell Newcastle United, which they purchased in 2021 and have since transformed into a top-half Premier League club.
Wyness: “PIF Would Have to Sell Newcastle to Buy Liverpool”
Wyness addressed the swirling rumours about a possible Saudi takeover of Liverpool, highlighting the financial strength of PIF but clarifying that significant hurdles remain.
“PIF would have to sell Newcastle if they were to come in at Liverpool,” Wyness said. “But we’re a long way from seeing how that would play out.”
He continued by acknowledging the abundance of rumours circulating due to PIF’s vast financial resources.
“At the moment, there’s lots of rumours that I’m hearing, because they’ve got lots of money. When you have money, all these rumours fly – you’re either taking over golf, as they’re doing with LIV, or taking over all sorts of sports,” Wyness added.
PIF’s financial muscle has certainly made waves in various sports, but whether their involvement will extend to a club as storied as Liverpool remains uncertain.
For now, Newcastle United remains firmly in PIF’s control, but Wyness’s comments suggest that any potential investment in another Premier League giant like Liverpool would require significant changes at St. James’ Park.
What’s next for Liverpool and PIF?
While rumours of a Saudi investment in Liverpool continue to surface, Wyness has made it clear that such a move is far from imminent.
In the meantime, Liverpool fans are left to speculate on FSG’s future plans and whether John Henry’s partnership with PIF in other ventures could eventually lead to a connection in football.
As the Premier League landscape evolves with increasing foreign investments, the possibility of PIF expanding their portfolio to include Liverpool remains distant prospect.
