Liverpool battled to a 2-0 win over Everton in the Premier League on Sunday to keep their hopes of an unprecedented quadruple alive, and the club are contemplating entering uncharted territory on the commercial side of their business, too.
As this column reported last week, Liverpool are in talks over a new shirt sponsorship deal as their £40 million-a-year contract with Standard Chartered is set to expire in May 2023. And although discussions are continuing about extending their partnership, the club are also talking to firms from sectors including electronics, media and tourism.
Among those parties, The Athletic can reveal, are companies from the cryptocurrency sector. They include a crypto exchange firm — a platform to buy and sell digital currency — and a blockchain platform (a decentralised computer network that underpins cryptocurrencies).
Many English top-flight sides have signed deals with cryptocurrency firms over the past few years but international superstars, such as Jordan Henderson and Mohamed Salah, displaying such companies on the front of their shirts would be a Premier League first. It is likely to be controversial but Liverpool are desperate to financially compete with other elite clubs and maximise their commercial deals.
There are a lot of environmental concerns about blockchains, which require vast computing power to operate, and the sector is largely unregulated and is closely associated with financial speculation. Cryptocurrency can be bought and sold on exchanges for financial gains or losses, potentially exposing fans to risk.
The most prominent Premier League cryptocurrency sponsor is Socios, which sells “fan engagement tokens” and has deals with six league clubs: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Everton, Leeds United and Manchester City. Fans of Palace recently held up a banner calling the firm “parasites” but Socios insists it exists for the benefit of fans rather than as a means of currency speculation.
When Liverpool launched a series of NFTs — non-fungible tokens — last month, the backlash was marked.
The ‘LFC Heroes Club’ features animated, cartoon-style digital artwork of 23 players and manager Jurgen Klopp
Fans were consulted about the NFT sales but it is understood the possibility of Liverpool partnering with a crypto sponsor has not yet been discussed with supporters.
Talks are continuing with all parties, with Liverpool hopeful of finalising a deal, which is expected to bring in more than £70 million over two seasons, in the next eight weeks.
The club, meanwhile, will also this week confirm the second game of their pre-season tour of the Far East.
The Athletic revealed in February that Jurgen Klopp’s side would face Manchester United in Bangkok on July 12 and then take on Crystal Palace in Singapore three days later.
Manchester United looked at Ashworth before his move to Newcastle
No sooner had Manchester United given their fans cause for optimism — confirming last week that Erik ten Hag will take over as manager from next season — than a reminder was served of the daunting task at hand, with Saturday’s loss at Arsenal the latest blow in a dejecting campaign.
There is a major rebuilding job to be done and while Ten Hag must improve the club’s fortunes on the pitch, chief executive Richard Arnold is responsible for delivering progress behind the scenes.
Among various key areas United have sought to strengthen is their football structure. Perhaps the most notable moves so far saw John Murtough promoted from head of football development to football director and former player Darren Fletcher from academy coach to technical director.
This column previously reported the plan to hire a deputy football director under Murtough and only last week two senior recruitment figures, Jim Lawlor and Marcel Bout, departed Old Trafford.
Interim manager Ralf Rangnick is scheduled to assume a consultancy role once Ten Hag arrives and he is also understood to have endorsed Monaco sporting director Paul Mitchell to the United hierarchy.
United also explored the idea of taking Dan Ashworth from Brighton & Hove Albion when it emerged around the turn of the year that the technical director may leave his post.
United looked into whether Ashworth might join them (Photo: Brighton & Hove Albion)
Brighton had fielded interest in Ashworth from Newcastle United and granted them permission to speak with the Englishman, a process which ended with him agreeing a switch to St James’ Park. But prior to Ashworth signing, there was contact with Manchester United. Although it did not constitute a formal approach, interview or offer, they looked into whether he might be attainable.
Any appointment would have needed to fit within United’s existing set-up, however, and it is improbable that would work for either side. At Brighton, like the Football Association previously, Ashworth rose to the top and Newcastle wanted him to assume a similar role.
Ultimately, Ashworth finalised the Newcastle deal and is on gardening leave before starting there.
Pochettino’s future in the balance as PSG conduct review
Mauricio Pochettino claimed his first league title as a manager as Paris Saint-Germain won their 10th French league crown on Saturday but the celebrations were hardly pronounced, reports Adam Crafton.
The club’s ultras began to exit the stadium with 15 minutes left of PSG’s draw against Lens and the players were not able to do a lap of honour after the game as there were not enough people left to celebrate.
The frustrations of supporters have built up this season, with placards in the stands calling for the departures of individuals such as sporting director Leonardo and the club’s commercial expert Fabien Allegre. Some feel the club has prioritised commercial growth over substance, while others have also criticised a perceived lack of investment in the women’s team.
Pochettino and PSG’s celebrations were muted (Photo: Alain Jocard/AFP via Getty Images)
PSG are now considering major changes at the end of another failed Champions League campaign and, as we have reported, the club’s president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has invited consultants from Harvard Business School to bring fresh eyes to PSG’s processes.
Pochettino’s future is more imminently in the balance, with the coach’s future 50-50, at best, and under discussion.
Sources at PSG have told The Athletic that the club does recognise that successive head coaches have not felt sufficiently empowered to succeed as they seek to manage the demands of an intense boardroom and satisfy the indulgences of superstar footballers. If Pochettino is a casualty, he will not be alone as the club is reviewing many aspects of how it works in the hope of running more efficiently.
PSG are continuing to hold out hope for a renewal of Kylian Mbappe’s contract, with the Frenchman’s deal set to expire at the end of this season. Real Madrid remain confident he will join the Spanish club on a free transfer but PSG are dangling a hugely lucrative shorter-term renewal in front of Mbappe and arguing that, at the age of 23, he can join Madrid later in his career. PSG are open to both a two- or three-year renewal, even if Mbappe would not necessarily fulfil the entirety of those deals if he stayed.
Separately, PSG made initial contact with the entourage of Manchester United’s Paul Pogba last summer when he had a year to run on his contract. The club did consider signing him but after the spontaneous signing of Lionel Messi, those plans were parked and Pogba has since run down his contract at Old Trafford and is highly likely to leave. PSG remain one of the clubs interested, although they will not be held to ransom over salary demands.
West Ham holding out for one more year of Rice
West Ham United are determined to keep Declan Rice this summer but have conceded internally they will have to sell him in 12 months, reports Roshane Thomas.
With the club in a Europa League semi-final and vying for a top-six finish, efforts were made to tie Rice down to a new deal. But the England international has turned down a third contract offer.
The 23-year-old has two years remaining on his existing deal but the club have the option to extend for a further year. So West Ham would look to sell him for at least £150 million in 2023 with two years left on his contract, hopefully after a successful World Cup with England in Qatar.
West Ham, meanwhile, are set to open talks over Hull City winger Keane Lewis-Potter, who is valued at around £18 million. The 21-year-old has attracted interest from Brentford, who had a bid rising to £8 million rebuffed last summer, but West Ham are keen to do business with Hull again, following the £22 million purchase of Jarrod Bowen in January 2020.
Thuram in demand in summer striker firesale
Among the most interesting aspects of this summer’s transfer market is likely to be the movement of top forwards — with demand typically high yet stock relatively low.
The competition to sign strikers such as Erling Haaland and Darwin Nunez not only shows their quality and potential but also the scarcity of elite alternatives that are gettable or even exist.
Further speculation is certain over the futures of leading forwards such as Mbappe, Robert Lewandowski, Harry Kane and Lautaro Martinez, but there is no guarantee they will move on. This will place greater emphasis on the level below such high-profile options and within that realm is said to be the Borussia Monchengladbach’s Marcus Thuram.
Thuram playing against Hertha Berlin in March (Photo: Mario Hommes/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Thuram has been linked with a host of big-name clubs in recent years and, despite enduring a disappointing season, it is anticipated there will be numerous suitors for the versatile attacker, 24.
The Frenchman is approaching the final 12 months of his contract and The Athletic…
Read More:Ornstein: Liverpool considering crypto shirt sponsor, Man Utd looked at Ashworth, Pochettino’s PSG future under review
2022-04-25 06:56:22