Everton takeover: ‘Three groups circling’ but Dan Friedkin could ‘come back’

There are ‘three groups circling’ to try and buy Everton but Dan Friedkin could ‘come back’ to complete a takeover reckons the club’s former chief executive Keith Wyness

Former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness believes there are three groups currently wanting to buy the club but reckons Dan Friedkin could still block a rival bid and resurrect his own interest after he pulled out of takeover talks a fortnight ago. It was the fourth time in two years that a period of exclusivity ended without wantaway owner Farhad Moshiri offloading his 94.1% stake in the club.

Wyness, who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs, reckons the US investors now have “control over the stadium” and “a say in any future takeover.” The 66-year-old told Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast: “There’s a lot of talk.

“There are three groups I’m aware of who are circling, but no-one is close to exclusivity yet. The one thing people seem to forget is that the Friedkin Group now have £200million invested and have control over the stadium, and they also have a say in any future takeover.

Friedkin could be a blocker. He could be waiting for this court case to be over with 777 Partners and then come back and make his move.

“I think that could be the case. We’ll have to wait and see when that is resolved.

“There is interest, there’s no doubt about that – even with the deck Everton have. They still see a positive valuation and a deal to be done.”

A statement from the club on Friday July 19, read: “Following a period of exclusivity, discussions between Blue Heaven Holdings (through which Moshiri owns his 94.1% stake) and The Friedkin Group over a potential sale of a majority stake in Everton have ended and The Friedkin Group will not be progressing with a purchase of the club.

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