Edwards Frustrated as Liverpool's Multi-Club Ambitions Stall; Futures of Three Key Figures in Doubt

An internal power struggle is brewing at Anfield over a stalled expansion project, with Liverpool's football hierarchy facing an uncertain future as a result of FSG's decision to halt plans for acquiring a second club.

The Merseysiders have endured a torrid 2025/26 campaign, falling well short in their Premier League title defence and now facing the real prospect of missing out on Champions League football altogether. Poor coaching from Arne Slot, questionable recruitment decisions from the boardroom, and inconsistent player performances have all contributed to the club's dramatic downturn.

For Slot, the stakes are crystal clear: securing Champions League qualification and/or silverware appears essential if he's to avoid the sack come summer. Yet the Dutch manager is far from the only senior figure whose position hangs in the balance.

Sporting director Richard Hughes has already attracted attention from Saudi Arabia, with Al-Hilal keen on the Liverpool chief. Whilst suggestions of a done deal have been denied, journalist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed the Middle East club are actively pursuing Hughes.

Perhaps more significantly, chief executive of football Michael Edwards is reportedly seething over FSG's decision to shelve the multi-club strategy. Edwards had specifically cited the ownership's "commitment to acquire and oversee an additional club" as a key reason for his return to the club in 2024, having previously turned down multiple opportunities elsewhere.

According to The Athletic's James Pearce, the project is now effectively frozen. A source revealed to Pearce: "The project is simply dormant. Nothing is currently happening that would suggest FSG are moving forward with acquiring a second club."

Edwards, Hughes, and Slot are all contracted only until 2027, with the former's unhappiness about the stalled expansion plans leaving his future decidedly uncertain.

FSG's ambitions appear to have quietly died on the vine. Around 25 clubs were extensively analysed as potential acquisitions, with particular focus on Spain, Portugal, and France. On four separate occasions, discussions progressed to a stage where a deal seemed genuinely possible. Three are well known: Bordeaux, Malaga, and Getafe. The fourth—Monaco—has now been revealed, with FSG holding talks in early 2025 about potentially joining forces with another ownership group to purchase a minority stake in the Ligue 1 side.

None received the green light from the FSG board, to whom Edwards reports. The likelihood of FSG expanding their football portfolio now appears remote, despite the groundwork being essentially complete.