Liverpool are in talks to buy a stake in Australian A-League club Melbourne Victory, according to reports down under.
The two club’s relationship blossomed when Liverpool played a pre-season friendly at the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground last summer, attracting a passionate crowd of over 95,000 fans.
Now News.com.au claim Victory chairman Anthony Di Pietro has been in talks with Liverpool in England this week about the opportunity to sell a stake in Victory to the Reds.
Victory are the biggest football club in Australia, having the biggest attendances in the A-League every year since 2006.
Currently managed by former Millwall and Rangers defender Kevin Muscat, they finished third in the league last season.
The news of Liverpool’s interest in Victory comes a month after Manchester City bought an 80% share of local rivals Melbourne Heart for AUS$12 million (approximately £6.5 million).
News.com.au suggest a similar stake in Victory would cost Liverpool over AUS$20 million (approximately £11 million).
Head of the A-League, Damien de Bohun recently welcomed Man City’s involvement with Heart, and welcomed further foreign investment in clubs.
“From our recent dealings with Manchester City in relation to Melbourne Heart and through the Western Sydney Wanderers sale process, it has become very apparent to us that there is a large amount of interest from overseas parties, including football clubs, that are looking to invest in Hyundai A-League clubs,” he is quoted by News.com.au as saying.
“We will continue work with any club that considers to receive overseas investment as long as it is mutually beneficial.”
Some early reaction to the news from Liverpool fans on Twitter here, and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
@thisisanfield if we can make money it makes sense but I'd rather buy a club in Europe we can loan players out to, unless that's the plan
— joe phelan (@joephelan17) February 5, 2014
@thisisanfield Its a way around FFP. MANC does it already, NYCFC and an Australian club too. Why FSP are trying is questionable.
— Brian Spalliero (@BrianSpalliero) February 5, 2014
@thisisanfield what an opportunity to unite the greatest club in England and also in Austrailia, would be a win win for both teams.#LFC
— Rich LFC (@rich_tash) February 5, 2014
Update: Liverpool have rubbished the reports suggesting they are in talks with Victory, according to the Liverpool Echo.
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