FSG chief explains spending plan as Liverpool push on with transfers
The financial model that Fenway Sports Group have adopted across their sporting teams has found itself challenged in recent times.
In the Premier League it is the entry to ownership of sovereign wealth funds and nation states that has raised the bar, while the carefree spending of the Todd Boehly/Clearlake Capital regime at Chelsea played a significant role in further distorting the transfer market.
In Boston, where FSG have owned the Boston Red Sox since 2002, while remaining a team with one of the biggest payrolls, the willingness to spend big by some of their rivals, most notably the recent spree of the New York Mets under the ownership of multi-billionaire Steve Cohen has also added a new financial dynamic.
In Liverpool the accusation around a lack of spend in comparison to their rivals has long been levelled at FSG by sections of the fan base, and while the Reds have seen payroll obligations lurch forward during the tenure of FSG on Merseyside to make it the second highest in the Premier League for the 2021/22 financial year, the lower net spend when compared to those they compete against has been stark.
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Liverpool have spent £95m this summer already on Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, and given the likely need to replace the Saudi-bound Jordan Henderson and potentially Fabinho, the Reds’ spend will likely be pushing £200m by the time the Premier League season kicks off should they land their targets in midfield and defence. There might not be as much heading in the other direction in terms of transfer receivables as they would like, with the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and James Milner all exiting on free
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