Liverpool owners close on £600m-plus deal as John W. Henry expands his empire

Liverpool's owners are set to add to their empire by purchasing National Hockey League team the Pittsburgh Penguins, according to widespread reports in America.

Fenway Sports Group (FSG) hope to wrap up the deal on Thursday to add to a portfolio which also includes Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox and NASCAR's Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing.

The American company, founded by John W. Henry, is valued at $7.35billion (£5.47bn) and they have owned Liverpool since buying the club for £300million from George Gillett and Tom Hicks in 2010.

The Penguins are valued at $845million (£630m) by Sportico, and no NHL team has ever been purchased for more.

Mario Lemieux, one of the team's legendary players, has been the owner alongside Californian billionaire Ron Burkle since 1999.

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Lemieux is expected to keep a small stake in the Penguins, who have the highest television ratings of any NHL or National Basketball Association side.

Based in Pennsylvania, they have won five Stanley Cups including back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017, and they play in the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference.

It is unknown how large a stake FSG are buying or whether Burkle will stay on as a co-owner.

Other investors in Henry's firm include NBA icon LeBron James and record executive Jimmy Iovine.

The FSG supremo has overseen a period of huge success at Anfield which saw Liverpool crowned champions of England, Europe and the world.

But Henry has not always been a popular figure and faced calls to sell up after involving the Reds in the European Super League in April.

The 72-year-old said sorry to fans after the ill-fated project collapsed within two days of its unveiling, saying: "I want to apologise to all the supporters of Liverpool football club.

"It should be said the project was never going to stand a chance without the support of fans.

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"Over the past 48 hours you were very clear it would not stand - we heard you. I heard you. I'm sorry. I alone am responsible for the unnecessary negativity brought forward over the past couple of days.

"It's something I won't forget. And shows the power the fans have today and will rightly continue to have."

Supporters have also grown frustrated with Liverpool's reluctance to spend heavily without balancing the books via sales.

FSG bought the Red Sox in 2002 and enjoyed huge success implementing the famed 'Moneyball' approach to buying and selling players.