AMAZON magnate Jeff Bezos is on course to deliver Liverpool a major boost by completing a £1.5BILLION investment.
Bezos’ consortium is close to finalising a deal to buy around a third of the Anfield club from Reds owners Fenway Sports Group.
Jeff Bezos could soon become a major shareholder in Liverpool Credit: REUTERS
The Amazon supremo is part of a consortium on course to buy a third of the Kop club Credit: Reuters
And his business expertise should see Liverpool’s revenues increase further — meaning even bigger transfer sprees down the line.
Virgil van Dijk yesterday admitted his side need to sign more quality as Barcelona captain Ronald Araujo arrived on loan to bolster new boss Andoni Iraola’s defence.
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The Reds have so far spent just £34.5million on Spanish winger Victor Munoz from Osasuna, with defender Jeremy Jacquet arriving from Rennes in a £60m deal that was struck in January.
It has been a conservative summer in comparison to the previous one where the club lavished an incredible £452.5m on new players — including £130m on a British transfer record deal for Alexander Isak.
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Hinting that Liverpool’s squad needs upgrading, skipper Van Dijk, 35, said: “Any quality we can add to the team will definitely be welcome.”
Bezos has an estimated net worth of around £192BN after founding e-commerce giant Amazon.
He is part of a consortium led by British-Indian businessman Amit Bhatia, which includes Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin.
If the consortium can help drive up revenues — from a club-record £703m — then it will allow the Reds to splash even more cash under Uefa and the Premier League Squad Cost Ratio rules.
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The consortium Jeff Bezos is part of could, in the long term, be a huge financial boost for the Reds Credit: Getty
Reds skipper Virgil van Dijk has welcomed any potential investment in the club Credit: Alamy
Premier League clubs can spend 85 per cent of their revenue on football- related salaries, though that is restricted to 70 per cent for clubs in Europe.
Liverpool CEO Billy Hogan has already confirmed that the club are considering a partial sell-up.
FSG — principally owned by John Henry — paid £300m to buy the Reds in 2010 and have only sold off around four per cent of the club, to global sports investment firm Dynasty Equity in 2023.
A deal to sell around one-third of the club for £1.5bn would value Liverpool at a staggering £4.5bn.
Hogan said: “John Henry has been very up front about the fact that if there ever was an opportunity for investment that would help the club, then they would seriously consider it.
“In this case, a consortium led, managed and represented by Amit Bhatia has come forward to make a minority investment in the club.”
FSG declined to comment on whether a deal is close to completion but, with progress understood to have been made, the news will excite Spanish boss Iraola.
One priority has been to replace Mo Salah, who left this summer and joined Trabzonspor on a free transfer.
Liverpool want to sign more superstars — although talks have stalled over a bid for Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola, with the Reds well short of the Champions League holders’ £128m valuation of the French winger, 23.
Bournemouth midfielder Adam Scott is another target.
Ronald Araujo has joined Liverpool on a season-long loan from Barecona Credit: AP
The Reds are also keen on signing Bournemouth ace Alex Scott Credit: ALAMY
But FSG have baulked at the £80m asking fee set by Iraola’s former club.
Iraola has also complained that he is desperately short of experienced defenders — and Barcelona’s Araujo, 27, last night completed a season-long loan which Liverpool have an option to make permanent for £47.1m.
Uruguayan Araujo, who will wear the No 33 shirt, said: “Without a shadow of a doubt, the aim is to win trophies.
“We need to be battling it out on all fronts. You aim high at a club like this — that’s what we’ll all be doing.
“It was the ideal move for me at this stage in my career, a move that was necessary for me to take.
Talks for the Reds to sign Bradley Barcola from PSG have stalled Credit: GETTY
“My attributes will suit this league down to the ground.
“The style of play in the English league should be perfect for my qualities as a player.
“We all know what a great player Virgil is.
“He’s a real reference point for the team and he’s a kind of role model and reference for me personally as well.
“I am excited to have that opportunity and will enjoy learning from him and playing alongside him.”
