​Emirati lining up takeover bid for Liverpool FC – report

A member of the same family as the owner of Premier League football club Manchester City is reportedly lining up a takeover for rivals Liverpool.

British newspaper The Daily Star said a family member of UAE deputy prime minister Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan had set aside more than £700m (Dhs 3.7bn) to buy the club.

The publication reported earlier this month that talks were taking place regarding the proposed sale.

Read: An Arab Buys Your Football Club – Good Or Bad?

In its latest report, The Daily Star said one likely buyer was UAE President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Sheikh Khalifa Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is estimated to be worth more than £30bn (Dhs 158.6bn).

His half-brother Sheikh Mansour acquired Manchester City in 2008 and has spent millions to transform it in a title-winning side.

Other members of the Al Nahyan royal family include important politicians, businessman and military officers. Those that have shown an interest in football include:

(photo courtesy of UAEInteract)

• HH Hamdan bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, ex-president of the UAE Football League and chairman of the honorary board of local football team Al Jazira.

(photo courtesy of General Secretariat of the Executive Council)

• HH Hazza bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, honorary chairman of the UAE Football Association, chairman of Abu Dhabi Sports Council and vice-president of football club Al Ain.

• HH Saeed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, reportedly served as chairman of Al-Wahda Club and was previously linked to a purchase of Scottish football club Rangers.

The title said it had confirmed with the Premier League that there was no rule preventing relations owning different clubs.

Liverpool were acquired by American investment company Fenway Sports Group in October 2010 for £300m but are now estimated to be worth around £650m.

This increase in value can be partly attributed to a new £5.136bn Premier League TV deal, which starts next season.

Read: Why buy Liverpool and why now?

The publication said a cash injection would allow the club to compete with Europe’s elite for players in the summer transfer market.

In 2015 Forbes ranked Liverpool FC as the eighth most valuable football club in the world in a poll topped by Real Madrid with a value of $3.26bn.

Forbes’ recent ranking of the world’s richest Arabs indicates there are several Emirati businessmen who could afford the club at a £700m valuation including:

Majid Al Futtaim

Net worth in 2016: $5bn

Net worth in 2015: $6.2bn

Source of wealth: Real estate, retail

Country: United Arab Emirates

Abdulla bin Ahmad Al Ghurair & family

Net worth in 2016: $4.9bn

Net worth in 2015: $6.4bn

Source of wealth: Diversified

Country: United Arab Emirates

Hussain Sajwani

Net worth in 2016: $3.2bn

Net worth in 2015: Not ranked

Age: 63

Source of wealth: Real estate

Country: United Arab Emirates

Abdulla Al Futtaim

Net worth in 2016: $3.1bn

Net worth in 2015: $3.2bn

Source of wealth: Auto dealers, investments

Country: United Arab Emirates

Revealed: World’s top 10 richest Arabs in 2016