Peter Moore has put a clear frame on Liverpool's ownership future: a 38 per cent entry point, a December deadline and a route that could still end in full control. The former chief executive says the reported 1892 Holdings deal should not be treated as a stop point. It sits inside a process that still needs approval and still has room to expand.

The reported structure

The reported agreement sees Amit Bhatia's consortium, 1892 Holdings, buying 38 per cent of Liverpool from Fenway Sports Group earlier this year. Moore said that when an entity comes in at that valuation, there has already been a conversation about what ownership looks like next.

He went further in his comments to the Liverpool Echo. "You don't acquire that percentage for billions of dollars without having a path to full ownership," he said. The same reporting also points to a route that could allow the consortium to move up to 69 per cent and take control, with a total 100 per cent buyout also presented as a possibility.

The Independent Football Regulator is required to issue a final suitability determination within 90 days, which means the next stage is procedural as much as financial. The reported deadline for the purchase is in December, so the deal still has to clear a narrow window.

Why Moore is talking up Bhatia

Moore also made a point of Bhatia's football background. He said Bhatia has been at Queens Park Rangers for 16 years and called him "a football guy" who loves the game.

That background is part of why Moore thinks Bhatia is worth watching closely as a future owner of Liverpool. He said friends of his have met Bhatia over the last few weeks and described him as "the person to keep a very close eye on" in that context.

Liverpool's own position is still solid enough to make the ownership talk land in a live football environment rather than a dormant one. They are 5th in the Premier League with 15 points from 9 matches, and 8th in the Champions League table with 9 points from 4 matches. The club is still operating on multiple fronts while the ownership story develops.

Moore's view on the Amazon angle was less convincing than his wider ownership point. He called that part "a little silly" and said Jeff Bezos has never said a word about Liverpool. The stronger part of the argument remains the structure around the 38 per cent stake, the approval process and the possibility that the first step is not the last one.

FAQ

Will the Liverpool takeover lead to full ownership?

Peter Moore says the reported 38 per cent deal should be seen as the start of a longer ownership path. He argued that you do not acquire that percentage for billions of dollars without a route to full ownership, while reports also point to a possible rise to 69 per cent control or even a 100 per cent buyout.

Why is the December deadline important in the Liverpool takeover?

The reported deadline for 1892 Holdings to complete the purchase is in December. The Independent Football Regulator is also required to issue a final suitability determination within 90 days, so the process now has a defined timetable.

Who is Amit Bhatia in the Liverpool ownership talks?

Peter Moore described Amit Bhatia as a football guy and said he has been at Queens Park Rangers for 16 years. Moore also said friends of his have met Bhatia in recent weeks and called him someone to keep a very close eye on as a future owner of Liverpool.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →