Peter Moore, who previously held the top position at Liverpool, has suggested the recent transaction involving Fenway Sports Group divesting a 38% stake to Amit Bhatia’s 1892 Holdings consortium could ultimately lead to complete control passing to Bhatia’s investors.
Last Friday saw confirmation that Bhatia, whose consortium includes the world’s third wealthiest individual Jeff Bezos alongside Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin, would join as part of a new set of minority shareholders.
Bhatia departed from his position at Queens Park Rangers after almost two decades last month and has now been installed as vice chairman. Bezos, whose fortune is estimated at approximately £204billion, will have K5 Global managing partner Bryan Baum serve on Liverpool’s board. Saverin, reported to possess personal wealth of £24billion, will be represented by his spouse Elaine.
The transaction values the 38% stake at roughly £1.65billion, with American outlet CNBC reporting the group holds an option to acquire complete ownership within twelve months for £6billion.
Moore, who spent three years as chief executive during Jurgen Klopp’s tenure, suggested the Bhatia consortium may eventually assume full ownership of the club. The Liverpool-born entrepreneur outlined how the Reds can expand their yearly earnings with support from their extraordinarily wealthy new minority investors.
Moore stated on the Soccer Business podcast that sixteen years as owners represents a substantial period but exit strategies always exist. He noted financial responsibility requires questions about requirements, timelines and positioning. He observed that John Henry and Tom Werner are both in their seventies, and individuals in that age bracket naturally consider estate planning and legacy, potentially facing pressure from other invested partners who lack the prominence of those two figures but may wish to realise their investment.
He described the arrangement as essentially a liquidity event establishing higher valuation benchmarks. Moore explained that FSG brings American franchise ownership experience and expertise in managing billions of dollars. He suggested that whenever a group enters with billions for a significant minority stake, conversations about majority ownership naturally follow, whether formally contracted or not. He noted Bhatia is relatively young, in his forties, potentially positioning him to become the controlling party eventually, though he acknowledged uncertainty about the specifics, emphasarding such arrangements are typically structured by prestigious law firms.
Moore stated he knows the owners well and wished to be clear he was speaking as a supporter from considerable distance. He observed Bhatia appears heavily involved as the public face, particularly given his resignation from his cherished QPR role. He emphasised that the Squad Cost Ratio regulations, formerly Profit and Sustainability rules, prevent wealthy individuals from simply writing personal cheques for players. He suggested the potential advantage of involving people with such power and influence lies in commercial revenue expansion, which is essential for meeting the eighty-five percent of revenue allocation permitted for on-field expenditure. He questioned how Bezos might leverage his considerable resources and expertise to boost Liverpool’s commercial income, potentially through an Amazon association, while cautioning supporters against expecting dramatic changes simply swapping one billionaire group for another, given FSG’s established position.
Moore praised FSG as excellent custodians who have never extracted money from the club, describing his time working with them as a privilege. He advised supporters to carefully examine the regulations for the 2026/27 season to understand exactly what funds could be directed towards transfers and wages, emphasising that expanding commercial revenues remains the key to increased spending capacity.
Moore, who departed in summer 2020 and was succeeded by Billy Hogan, recalled efforts during his tenure to establish global presence, particularly through retail expansion in Asia where brand development and merchandise availability could strengthen supporter engagement. He noted Liverpool recently announced further store openings, bringing the total to forty retail locations, including a site on London’s Oxford Street. He expressed confidence the club retains substantial opportunity for commercial revenue growth on an international scale, referencing his previous emphasis on maintaining local identity alongside global reach.