Liverpool owner Fenway Sports Group in talks for Bordeaux takeover

Ligue 2 side Girondins de Bordeaux are in talks with Fenway Sports Group regarding a complete club takeover, according to a report from France Bleu. The owners of Liverpool FC are the leading candidates to purchase the 6-time French champions club which is currently owned by Luxembourgish-Spanish businessman Gerard Lopez. Bordeaux are in disarray both on and off the field. Les Girondins are set to play a third consecutive season in the second-tier. However, they risk administrative relegation into the third-tier due to their financial struggles.

This Tuesday, Bordeaux are set to meet to the DNCG – Direction Nationale du Contrôle de Gestion, French football’s financial watchdog – to provide financial guarantees and a viable budget to fund a full Ligue 2 season. Representatives from Les Girondins are reportedly accompanied by two executives and one counsel from Fenway Sports Group travelling from the group’s Boston base. Their intent is to inform the DNCG of their desire to purchase the club.

France Bleu goes as far as saying that FSG majority shareholder John Henry recently took part in meetings regarding the Bordeaux takeover. FSG Technical director Julian Ward also took a tour of the French team’s infrastructures, the Haillan training ground and the 42.000-seater Matmut Atlantique stadium. Talks are therefore reportedly well advanced and progressing between FSG and Bordeaux, whose first team is coached by former Liverpool player Albert Riera.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval