Liverpool CEO on FSG, Iraola and Investment Talks

Liverpool chief executive Billy Hogan has addressed talks over a minority investment in the club, telling the BBC that Fenway Sports Group remains committed to Liverpool despite the negotiations.

Speaking in New York ahead of Liverpool's pre-season fixture against Wrexham at Yankee Stadium, Hogan described the past year as "super difficult" for the club "for lots of different reasons."

The consortium talks

Last week FSG confirmed that a group led by Amit Bhatia, a British-Indian businessman, was in discussions over a strategic minority investment. Those talks have continued, with a growing expectation that an agreement will be reached.

"John Henry and FSG have always said that if there was an interest in an investment that would help the football club, then they would consider it," Hogan said. "That was said many years ago and that remains the case here."

He declined to go beyond the club's existing statement, repeating only that a consortium "led, managed and represented by Amit Bhatia has come forward and expressed an interest in a minority investment."

According to the Financial Times, a deal on those terms would value Liverpool at more than £4.5bn. FSG bought the club for £300m in 2010.

Not a step back, Hogan says

Hogan, who has been with FSG since the takeover, was firm that the discussions should not be read as the owners preparing to leave. FSG also owns the Boston Red Sox in Major League Baseball.

"There's a huge opportunity still," he said. "This is the biggest and most popular sport in the world and we're one of the biggest clubs in the biggest league in the biggest sport in the world."

He added: "We've definitely not peaked. We're in a good place to continue to grow."

A new era on the pitch

The financial questions arrive alongside change in the dugout, with Andoni Iraola now leading the team. Liverpool's American tour, taking in fixtures against Sunderland, Wrexham and Leeds, reflects the club's stated figure of more than 26 million supporters in the United States.

That commercial reach is part of what makes a minority stake attractive to outside investors, and part of why the club is willing to spend its pre-season building the audience further.

Reporting basis: BBC Sport.