Liverpool eyes Getafe takeover as FSG completes due diligence; Ekitike punishment and Leoni injury test club resilience

Fenway Sports Group has completed due diligence on Getafe CF as part of ongoing efforts to assemble a multi-club portfolio. The Boston-based owner, now entering the 15th year of their stewardship of Liverpool, has long signaled an interest in acquiring another European club and has narrowed potential targets after evaluating more than 20 sides across the continent. The Getafe target sits sixth in La Liga and is among the clubs under consideration as FSG weighs how a second football operation could fit alongside Liverpool.

The due diligence process was sparked by an informal interaction between Real Madrid’s chief executive, Jose Angel Sanchez, and Getafe president Angel Torres, according to people familiar with the matter. Getafe became aware of Liverpool’s interest when the two sides met around the time Getafe played Hull City in a friendly at the MKM Stadium on August 2, after which a delegation from FSG traveled to Spain to review the club’s accounts and infrastructure. Ward and Marques, central to the evaluation, led the assessments alongside former Liverpool sporting directors Michael Edwards and Julian Ward, with Ward fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and Marques having recently explored opportunities with Spanish clubs. In total, FSG has conducted due diligence on 25 clubs across Europe since launching the drive to add a second club to their portfolio.

There is no public indication yet of a price tag or a timeline for a potential deal. If FSG chooses to move forward, the talks would likely proceed toward a formal agreement given what is already known about Getafe, a club owned by local businessman Angel Torres since 2002. The initiative underscores FSG’s strategic aim to broaden their footprint in European football, building on Liverpool’s growth and their broader ambitions in the market. The possibility of a formal acquisition would come as Liverpool mark a milestone in FSG’s ownership, reflecting the transformation of a club once on the brink of administration into a globally prominent football entity with the financial wherewithal to pursue ambitious expansion plans.

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Hugo Ekitike’s disciplinary blemish at Liverpool is the other major storyline enveloping the club this week. The France international, who had begun his Merseyside career with promise, was sent off in the Carabao Cup tie against Southampton after a late challenge, earning a second yellow card for removing his shirt after scoring the winning goal. As a consequence, he is expected to incur a financial sanction of about two weeks’ wages, a standard punitive measure for a red card offense that underscores the club’s seriousness about on-field conduct. Yet the more lasting consequence lies in the dressing room, where veteran teammates and club leaders have emphasized accountability.

Captain Virgil van Dijk and fellow defender Andy Robertson publicly signaled that such moments must be learned from, with Robertson stating that the player’s actions will be addressed within the group. Manager Arne Slot also criticized the episode in his post-match remarks, highlighting the broader expectation of unity and discipline in a squad striving to integrate a high-profile new signing. The incident arrived amid a broader narrative around Ekitike’s adaptation to life at Anfield, including a widely discussed moment in which he appears in a recent Adidas third-kit advert alongside Robertson and club legend Steve McManaman, a reminder of the broader spotlight surrounding the forward. While a single red card can cast a shadow, club officials stress that it will be the long-term conduct that determines his standing within the group.

The club’s leadership is equally focused on off-field matters that affect squad cohesion. Giovanni Leoni, a rising talent who made his first-team debut in challenging circumstances, has ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament in a Premier League match and is expected to miss the remainder of the season. The setback comes at a difficult moment for Liverpool, and the club has signaled strong support for Leoni as he begins a long recovery process. Two senior center backs, Van Dijk and Joe Gomez, have faced ACL injuries in the past and have since become pillars of guidance and mentorship for younger players in recovery. They are expected to be involved in Leoni’s rehabilitation, sharing practical experience and emotional support. Liverpool’s physiotherapy team, led by Lee Nobes, has a reputation for excellence and is anticipated to play a central role in Leoni’s return-to-play program.

The injury situation adds a new layer of challenge for Slot’s squad, which has also been navigating the implications of loaned or developing players in and around the first team. Harvey Elliott, who has spent time in Villa’s squad this season on loan with a £35 million obligation to buy, was a focal point of Unai Emery’s critique after Villa’s 1-1 draw with Sunderland, where Emery accused several players of laziness. Emery’s comments singled out Elliott as a player of note, reflecting the broader scrutiny around a young talent who could be central to both Liverpool’s and Emery’s ongoing conversations about performance and potential impact. While Elliott remains a fixture of conversation around form and potential, Liverpool’s leadership has emphasized the importance of balance and accountability as the season progresses.

Another developing thread concerns Will Wright, a newer signing whose trajectory is followed closely by the club. Wright sustained a medial ligament injury during a pre-season match against Atletico Madrid and is expected to be out for five to seven weeks. The club’s medical and coaching staff have indicated a cautious, staged return for Wright, consistent with best practices for youth players integrating into a demanding schedule. This injury adds to a busy period for Liverpool as they contend with a congested fixture list while also exploring strategic expansion outside of Anfield’s borders.

Beyond these immediate concerns, Liverpool’s leadership continues to structure the club’s broader talent strategy and fitness pipeline. The Ekitike episode, Leoni’s injury, and the ongoing due-diligence process at Getafe together illuminate a club in a state of transition: balancing short-term performance expectations with longer-term strategic ambitions, including the possibility of aligning with a second European club to diversify operations, share resources, and potentially unlock new pathways for player development and commercial growth. While the financial and logistical details of a Getafe deal remain undisclosed, FSG’s work in evaluating potential targets—and their historical track record in transforming Liverpool—keep the door open for a possible expansion that could reshape the landscape of English and European football in the years ahead.