Everton takeover: State of play after new Friedkin Group claims and John Textor admission

Everton remain on the radar of potential investors but a serious bid for the club is yet to have materialised in the wake of the latest collapsed takeover deal. Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor is one interested party, going on the record about his attraction to a club he views as a prestigious institution. But his shares in a rival Premier League club remain prohibitive to any deal being struck.

Textor’s intrigue in a move for Everton has persisted, with the US billionaire having first declared the Blues as being a potential target back in May when he said: “Everton represents the best of English football: the struggles, the glory, the want. I love that it’s out of London. Everybody should want to buy Everton right now.”

His comments fired the starting gun on what became a competitive fight to win Moshiri’s ear when the deal that would have seen 777 Partners take control of the club collapsed seven days later. The Friedkin Group, led by Texas billionaire and Roma owner Dan Friedkin, emerged as the winner of that battle but the move fell through in late July following a period of intense scrutiny into the club’s financial picture.

Textor was in contact with Everton representatives during the short window between the 777 Partners and Friedkin deals and his interest has persisted.

He told the ECHO’s sister paper, the Mirror, this weekend: "Yes, we are looking at Everton along with everybody else… I am an Anglophile when it comes to football. When I see these legendary teams come along, some in the Premier League, some in the Championship, clubs that I grew up with, they have an appeal. They also have an appeal to our business model because if I follow these great teams, then so do athletes around the world.”

But he acknowledged - as he did back in May - that his ownership of 45% of Palace prevented him from moving forward at this stage. He is looking to sell those shares but that process has been ongoing for several months and is likely to continue for some time. The true value in his most recent comments may be in the sentiment that Everton, for all the challenges that a takeover would bring to any new owner, remains attractive to people with deep pockets and a track record in football.

Moshiri remains open to proposals but a formal proposal that he has been willing to advance has been elusive to date. Reports that The Friedkin Group is considering returning to bid for a minority stake in Everton are currently understood to be wide of the mark. Of the other parties that have previously expressed an interest, none are believed to have emerged, so far, with a concrete offer for a second time, with several having taken time to assess their options following the fallout after the collapse of the latest deal.

The Friedkin Group withdrew due to concerns over the near-£200m lent to the club by 777 Partners over the course of its protracted - and failed - takeover attempt. The Miami-based outfit failed to overcome regulatory tests set by the Premier League and, as that saga dragged on, the group was hit by financial and legal turbulence that eventually led to its bid falling apart. Concerns over the nature of the funding provided by 777 Partners were insurmountable to The Friedkin Group and will be an issue for any new investor.

During its negotiations with Moshiri, The Friedkin Group provided a separate £200m tranche of funding - that would also need to be paid off on any change of the club’s ownership.

Moshiri has been searching for significant investment in Everton for more than two years, signing four different exclusivity deals with parties that have explored moves for all, or part, of his 94% stake in Everton. Everton remain confident in the club's short-term position heading into a new season off the back of a busy transfer window.