Everton are back on the market again and the Friedkin Group were the fourth party over the past two years to be granted exclusivity by owner Farhad Moshiri without completing a takeover, after 777 Partners, Maciek Kaminski and MSP Sports Capital.
They had agreed a deal in principle on 14 June, leapfrogging five other rival bidders for a detailed survey of the club’s books.
A consortium led by Kevin Malone, former general manager of American baseball club the LA Dodgers, made a takeover offer and was willing to commit more than £78m for football operations this year.
The complications surrounding the debt is a major concern and BBC Sport has been told by Malone his group is “seriously evaluating the opportunity” before deciding whether to reignite their interest.
A consortium of international investors, which involved a member of the Saudi royal family, made a £400m offer and a UK-based investment firm, backed by two ‘western billionaires’, also made a bid.
It remains to be seen whether either of these parties will return to the table.
Meanwhile, a £200m loan provided by the Friedkin Group paid off a £158m loan to the club from MSP Sports Capital and local businessmen Andy Bell and George Downing, with the remainder covering the costs for the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.
The club’s cash flow will also soon be improved by receiving – if they haven’t already – the next portion of Premier League broadcasting revenue which is worth around £30-40m.
The financial situation was strengthened by selling forward Lewis Dobbin to Aston Villa and defender Ben Godfrey to Atalanta for a combined £20m before the 2023-24 profit and sustainability deadline on 30 June, while midfielder Amadou Onana also left for Villa in a £50m deal earlier this week.
Read more on what is next for the Toffees here
Kevin Malone,Farhad Moshiri,MSP Sports Capital,the Friedkin Group,Maciek Kaminski,LA Dodgers,Lewis Dobbin,Aston Villa,Ben Godfrey,Amadou Onana,Everton,Atalanta
