Former QPR owner interested in buying Liverpool minority stake | OneFootball

The Reds are currently owned by Fenway Sports Group

An investment consortium led by British-Indian millionaire and former QPR co-owner Amit Bhatia has expressed an interest in acquiring a minority stake in Liverpool.

Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group acknowledged the approach on the same day that Bhatia stepped down from the board at QPR to end an 18-year association, having agreed to transfer his stake in the club to majority owner Ruben Gnanalingam.

A spokesperson for FSG said: “An investment consortium led, managed, and represented by Amit Bhatia has expressed interest in making a strategic minority investment in Liverpool Football Club.”

No deal has been agreed with discussions at an early stage.

In 2023, FSG sold a minority stake in Liverpool to investment firm Dynasty and any deal with Bhatia, should it proceed, is expected to be along similar lines.

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FSG, which also owns the Boston Red Sox and the Pittsburgh Penguins, bought Liverpool in 2010 for £300million. Forbes recently valued the club at £4.6billion.

On Tuesday, Bhatia announced he was leaving his role at QPR. He served as vice-chairman before becoming chairman in 2018, a role he held for five years.

In quotes on the QPR website, the 46-year-old said: “Since joining the club in 2007, QPR has been a deeply important part of my life and of my family’s life.

“Over nearly two decades we have shared promotions, relegations, unforgettable highs and painful lows, and the memories we have made at Loftus Road alongside the supporters will stay with us forever.

“I step back from my formal responsibilities with pride, gratitude and affection. I want to thank the players, managers, staff, the community trust, my fellow board members and, above all, the fans, who have made me and my family feel part of the QPR family for so many years.”

Bhatia is the son-in-law of Lakshimi Mittal, executive of steel and mining company ArcelorMittal. Forbes has recently valued Mittal’s fortune at £23.2billion.

In May of this year, Mittal partnered with Adal Poonawalla to buy a controlling stake in the Indian Premier League team Rajasthan Royals.