Mike Gordon's retirement plans have influenced FSG's move to sell Liverpool.

Gerry Cardinale, founder of RedBird Capital Partners, the US investment firm that owns 11 per cent of Reds owners FSG as well as controlling stakes in AC Milan and Toulouse, revealed that Gordon, one of Jurgen Klopp's closest FSG allies, had been considering his position.

Gordon recently transferred responsibility for his day to day role at Liverpool to Reds CEO Billy Hogan, with Gordon placed in charge of the search for a potential minority partner.

Speaking at the Financial Times' Business of Football Summit, Cardinale said: “Things tend to get a little ahead of the situation.

“I think our partner in Liverpool, Mike Gordon, who is really a visionary and thought leader, is I think looking to retire and there was maybe an opportunity to see if maybe someone could replace him or buy him down.

“I don't think there was ever a driving desire to sell Liverpool. We would always be opportunistic and this was simply that."