Liverpool have just handed Man City big boost with official update on £68m off-pitch deal

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Liverpool have indirectly given Man City a big boost after the latest developments in the world of football governance.

The departure of Jurgen Klopp from Liverpool at the end of 2023-24 marked the end of an era characterised by the excellence of both Liverpool and City.

Under the stewardship of Arne Slot, Liverpool hope to prevent City from winning five Premier League titles in a row, although it has been Arsenal who have run them closer in recent seasons.

In terms of the approaches of the two clubs’ respective ownerships, Liverpool and City could hardly be more different.

Liverpool’s Fenway Sports Group are viewed as among the best football business operators in the world, but they are not willing to bankroll major financial losses to fund success on the pitch.

Man City‘s owners on the other hand are not particularly bothered about seeing a return on their investment in the club so long as they continue to win trophies and influence.

However, there is one common factor between the two – their aspirations in the world of multi-club ownership.

City Football Group owns 12 clubs worldwide and is the biggest and most successful multi-club operation in the history of the sport.

Now, FSG want in on the act.

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Liverpool hand Man City multi-club advantage after takeover failure

It emerged last week that FSG had pulled out of talks to sign historic French side Bordeaux.

The then-Ligue 2 club had debts that would have made a takeover by FSG by FSG cost around £68m.

However, the Boston-based group decided to U-turn on the deal, citing the club’s debt and broader economic problems in French football.

Since then, Bordeaux has lost its professional status and been administratively relegated to the third tier.

Significantly, as reported by The Athletic, that has allowed Troyes to be reinstated to the second tier of French football despite having been relegated to the third at the end of 2023-24.

Troyes have been owned by City Football Group since 2020.

They were promoted from Ligue 2 in the first year of City ownership but were relegated after two seasons in the top flight, then again last term.

TBR Analysis: After Bordeaux U-turn, where will FSG look next to launch Liverpool multi-club network?

The Bordeaux links were not the first time that FSG had been connected with another football club takeover.

Four clubs in Brazil have also been mooted as potential candidates for an FSG multi-club operation, as has an MLS franchise.

That latter option would be far more expensive and would represent more a business-centric approach as opposed to one which helps Liverpool develop its sporting model.

The multi-club model has helped clubs circumvent the post-Brexit points system by effectively parking young players at subsidiary clubs until they have the necessary points to play in England.

If Liverpool are going down that route, then a club classified as playing in a Band 2 league by the FA would be an attractive option.

That is the Portuguese Primeira Liga, Eredivisie, Belgian First Division A, the Turkish Super Lig.