£700m valuation of Liverpool FC ‘too low’ says analyst

FORMER Carling chief executive and financial expert Joe Beardwood reckons the Football Club is under valued at £700m.

Liverpool-born Beardwood’s comments follows suggestions that Chinexe investment group SinoFortone is preparing a bid for the Anfield club.

Current US owner Fenway Sports Group has denied receiving an offer for the club.

In an interview in The Liverpol Echo, Beardwood said: “I’d be surprised if Fenway wanted to sell now but like everyone there will come a point where the numbers are just that big you can’t ignore it.

“We’ve seen China suddenly emerge over the past 12 months as a major financial force in football.

“It’s as if the government has suddenly decided to spend a shed load of money to take football seriously and do whatever it takes.

“To have one of Europe’s big five football brands under the ownership of a Chinese business would be a great coup for them.

“It will depend on what Fenway’s agenda is and where they see their cut-off. They’ll have a value in their own mind over when they’ll cash in.

“It feels to me £700m in this climate is on the low side. But that’s based on an assumption of being associated with a great brand to give their company a lot of good publicity.

“You’ve got to realise that most UK sports fans now know who Fenway Sports Group are.”

Chinese interest in the English Premier League football was underlined this week at the International Festival for Business 2016 taking place at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool when ex-Reds and England stars Michael Owen and Mark Wright launched their new business venture in the Far East.



As part of Chinese Premier Xi Jinping’s plan to make China a “world football superpower” by 2050, their company Red Sports will specialise in the development of soccer schools and coach education programs in China.

The announcement was made to an audience of high profile officials and more than 60 Chinese delegates.