Liverpool watching closely as Man City find way around UEFA rules

There are 115 reasons why Liverpool are keeping a keen eye on how Manchester City are dealt with by the game's governing bodies.

But there has been a more immediate decision taken regards the Etihad outfit that will be of significant interest to the Reds' owners Fenway Sports Group.

Both City and neighbours Manchester United are set to be allowed to play in Europe next season alongside their respective sister clubs Nice of France and Spanish side Girona, despite UEFA regulations stating clubs owned by the same entity cannot compete in the same European competition. City Football Group members Manchester City and Girona are in the Champions League while INEOS-owned Manchester United are in the Europa League.

However, all teams have been told the forthcoming 2024/25 campaign will be considered transitional and that UEFA's multi-club ownership rules are likely to be strengthened for future seasons.

That this will all be of particular interest to Liverpool owners FSG is due to their planned move towards a similar multi-club model that is becoming increasingly prevalent.

There are already a handful of big hitters. As well as Manchester City and Girona, the City Football Group also contains New York City, Melbourne City, Yokohama J Marinos, Palermo and clubs in Uruguay, India, Belgium, France, Brazil and Bolivia. Chelsea owners, the BlueCo consortium, have a controlling interest in French side Strasbourg.

Red Bull are arguably the most prominent proponents of the initiative and have branded teams in Leipzig, Salzburg and New York as well as controlling stakes in Bragatino in Brazil and Austrian side FC Liefering. And one-time prospective Everton owners 777 Partners have their fingers in Hertha Berlin, Genoa, Standard Liege, Red Star of Paris, Melbourne Victory and Brazilian side Vasco da Gama.

The departure of Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager was determined as an opportune time for FSG to reorganise their football operations in preparation for the multi-club approach. Indeed, it is understood Michael Edwards was convinced to return to the fold in the newly-created position of FSG chief executive football due to the prospect of overseeing several teams.

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As well as Edwards, it was notable that the appointments of technical director Julian Ward and director of football development Pedro Marques have brought them under the FSG umbrella rather than tie them solely to Liverpool, as is the case with head coach Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes. The most recent FSG appointment was confirmed last Friday with Hans Leitert their head of global goalkeeping having previously held a similar position at Red Bull.

While the foundations are now in place for FSG, the next major step will be to pinpoint a club to acquire. Those in Portugal - where the likes of Edwards and Ward have built strong contacts - are understood to appeal due to opening up travel from the South American market.

But the purchase of a club anywhere in Europe will be shaped by UEFA regulations. The owners of City and United may be given the go-ahead to effectively carry on as normal this season, but it appears the landscape will soon shift again and regulations tightened. FSG will be taking note - and what impacts the owners will surely have indirect ramifications for Liverpool.

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