Anfield official says Reds owner FSG could be open to selling minority stake

China's investment drive in European football has gathered further momentum as a Chinese takeover of Premier League club Hull City appears imminent, while multiple investors have lodged inquiries over taking a stake in Liverpool FC.

After reports of an Everbright approach for Liverpool that values the club at 800 million pounds ($1 billion; 933 million euros), Reuters reported on Aug 22 that Chinese conglomerates Dalian Wanda and Fosun have lodged "letters of interest" with the current owners, Fenway Sports Group.

A senior Liverpool official contacted by China Daily reiterated FSG's denial of any bid for the club, which they say is not for sale. However, the official said the owners would consider selling a minority stake, similar to China Media Capital's $400 million purchase of a 13 percent share in City Football Group, which controls Manchester City FC.

"It seems there is a willingness inside the club to sell some or all of Liverpool to the Chinese investors," says Simon Chadwick, a professor of sports enterprise at Salford University. "I also sense that Liverpool's owners are likely to be playing hardball.

"There has been ongoing and competing Chinese interest in Liverpool for several months. My feeling is that the owners will be using this to push up the price of either an equity stake or the final sale price."

Meanwhile, it appears the sale of Hull City to siblings Dai Yongge and Dai Xiuli is imminent. The pair recently registered a new company - Rehne Goldenway Sports Management Ltd - with London's Companies House, according to the Hull Daily Mail. Should current owner Assem Allam go ahead with the sale, ownership of the club will likely be transferred to this new company. The brother and sister duo are registered as directors, along with a third individual identified as Hao Tang.

The Dai family made its fortune in the 1990s by converting old bomb shelters into underground malls. Their company, Rehne Commercial Holdings, owns shopping centers in dozens of cities around China. They also own a Chinese football club, Beijing Renhe.

Dai Xinli has appeared on Forbes magazine's billionaire list and is estimated to be worth around 700 million pounds, having handed over a 48 percent stake in the business - worth 246 million pounds - to her brother in 2014.

At one time, she was married to British mathematics teacher Tony Hawken, and she owns a home in London. She and her brother were pictured at the KCOM Stadium for Hull's season opener on Aug 13, and it is said she developed a love of football while taking her son to Premier League matches.

"We don't know much about the Chinese investors, but we're hopeful and optimistic about (the sale) because of the controversy around the current owners. They are deeply unpopular, so everyone is hoping this takeover goes through," says Ryan Richardson, vice-chairman of Hull City Supporters Trust. "Everyone is looking for a fresh start and (hopes) the team moves past the Allam years, which have been quite negative."

Hull City has yo-yoed between the Premier League and the second tier of English football since Egyptian-born British businessman Assem Allam bought the club in 2010. The club won promotion back into the top flight last season.

In 2013, Allam announced plans to rebrand the club as Hull Tigers, arguing that it would make the side more attractive to a foreign fan base. The move greatly angered fans, who saw it as disrespectful to the club's history.

"I don't really think (the Dais) would want to do anything like that. I can't see any reason why they would," Richardson says. "If she (Dai Xinli) has been to games, that implies some kind of interest or passion, so this probably bodes well.

"The biggest thing is engagement with fans. Currently, there is next to none of that. We want to be involved."

angus@mail.chinadailyuk.com

(China Daily European Weekly 08/26/2016 page27)