FSG could buy club that brought through Philippe Coutinho as Liverpool owners plot next steps

Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the owner of Liverpool FC, is keen to snap up another soccer team in the near future as it moves towards a multi-club model. Its options are being assessed as the US investors aim to follow the latest trend and avoid missing out on the potential benefits of owning more than one team.

Sharing information across multiple clubs and having a potential feeder system for talented players, similar to how Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig work, brings huge benefits. There is also a feeling among some that given how many of Liverpool's rivals are part of multi-club groups — Manchester City and Chelsea being just two examples — not following suit could leave the Reds at risk of falling behind.

According to the Brazilian outlet Globo, that club could potentially end up being Vasco da Gama. The historic South American outfit is one of those where checks have supposedly been carried out to assess its suitability. Currently, Vasco da Gama is owned by 777, the same group hoping to take over at Everton.

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FSG has employed Pedro Marques as its new director of football development and a large part of the job will be helping to run a second soccer club alongside Liverpool. As part of the multi-club model, which Michael Edwards has previously outlined as being a crucial part of the upcoming strategy, there could end up being a feeder club element.

Liverpool has not often shopped directly in the South American market for talent, preferring to let players move to Europe first and then develop elsewhere. But that leads to vastly inflated fees, with Chelsea's Enzo Fernández, for instance, leaving Benfica for Stamford Bridge for around 10 times what he had cost the Portuguese side only six months earlier.

Marques has expertise in South American soccer and has worked extensively with young talent in his previous roles, including at Manchester City. And Vasco da Gama has previously brought through talents including Philippe Coutinho. On its books currently are Dimitri Payet (now 37) and Gary Medel (now 36), both of whom played in the Premier League.

Liverpool.com says: Given the extensive issues with 777 that have come to light in England as the Miami-based group aims to take over at Everton, it doesn't seem implausible that Vasco da Gama could become available to purchase. Having a South American team could open up that market to FSG when it comes to saving on talent coming through that could eventually end up at Liverpool.