Liverpool's owners have hired an investment bank to advise on the possible sale of a sizeable stake in the club to a Chinese consortium, the Financial Times reported on Saturday, citing sources close to the matter.
The consortium is structured as a partnership between Everbright, a Chinese State-owned financial conglomerate, and PCP Capital Partners, the report said.
Liverpool is owned by the Fenway Sports Group of the U.S.
Last week, Chairman Tom Werner denied Liverpool was up for sale while Chief Executive Ian Ayre said the club wasn't engaged in investment discussions with anyone.
Chinese groups announced deals this month to buy AC Milan, England's West Bromwich Albion and second-tier French side Auxerre.
Other recent recipients of Chinese backing include Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Inter Milan. Manchester City and Atletico Madrid have significant minority investments from the country.
The sale of AC Milan was the most high-profile of the recent series of Chinese investments but any deal for Liverpool, the world's ninth-richest club by revenue according to Deloitte, is almost certain to eclipse that.
Fitch Ratings has revised the rating outlook to stable from positive after Liverpool's announcement of plans to acquire 100 percent of Suburbia, a clothing store chain, said Reuters in August.
