Liverpool assistant boss Pepijn Lijnders insists he and manager Jurgen Klopp are ‘not naive’ when it comes to the club’s ownership change.
The Premier League giants have been put up for sale by owners Fenway Sports Group to put Klopp and Lijnders’ futures in doubt.
Since FSG bought the club from George Gillett Jr. and Tom Hicks in October 2010, Liverpool have won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.
Klopp was appointed manager in 2015 and has been a huge success at Anfield despite the team’s current issues – which has seen Liverpool fall to eighth in the Premier League after their opening 13 games of the season.
FSG has considered selling Liverpool before and is now inviting offers once again, with a full sales presentation produced for interested parties.
Klopp’s assistant Lijnders faced the media on Tuesday and said that the duo are ‘not naive’ over their futures when it comes to an ownership change, with a new owner possibly wanting to bring in their own management team.
This was the case at Chelsea this season, with a change of ownership in the summer seeing Thomas Tuchel replaced by Graham Potter in September after Todd Boehly took over from Roman Abramovich.
‘Of course, when we signed the deal [at Liverpool], it was with them [FSG] but we are not naive to not think football doesn’t change,’ Lijnders said. ‘But, I have so much respect for them.’
He added: ‘Everybody who knows us as a club knows we have a strong relationship with the [current] owners.
‘I always know the owners act in best interests of the club and always have done. The statement was very clear.
‘You are just speculating. Statement was clear. It’s nothing new for a club to try to find new investors. For me, they are good owners.
‘They tied down one of best managers in world for 7+ years. That says a lot.
‘They also tied down our top players. And we have a stable academy. They have invested in it, and they have invested in this training ground, one of the best in world football.
‘It wasn’t easy to leave Melwood. Then there’s the Main Stand and the new stand.
‘If they weren’t good owners we wouldn’t be sat here. We have won a lot of cups and a lot of international prizes.
‘Do I feel they are here for the long-term? I think the statement was really clear, to be honest.’
The FSG statement Lijnders refers to reads: ‘There have been a number of recent changes of ownership and rumours of changes in ownership at EPL clubs and inevitably we are asked regularly about Fenway Sports Group’s ownership in Liverpool.
‘FSG has frequently received expressions of interest from third parties seeking to become shareholders in Liverpool.
‘Fenway Sports Group has said before that under the right terms and conditions we would consider new shareholders if it was in the best interests of Liverpool as a club.
‘FSG remains fully committed to the success of Liverpool, both on and off the pitch.’
Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley have been retained to assist with the sale process.
FSG, who are principally owned by John W. Henry, also own American baseball team Boston Red Sox.
MORE : Who is Jim Ratcliffe and what is his net worth amid Liverpool interest rumours?
MORE : Premier League club Liverpool put up for sale by owners FSG
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