Everton supporters are desperate for some certainty when it comes to the future of their club following two botched takeover attempts.
After 777 Partners were forced to pull out of talks to buy the club earlier this year, the more credible Roma owner Dan Friedkin was expected to have more luck.
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Several more buyers are waiting in the wings to buy Everton, but the complexity of the situation means that a deal is unlikely to be completed any time soon.
To discuss the latest in the increasingly nebulous takeover sage, TBR spoke exclusively to Liverpool University football finance lecturer and Price of Football author Kieran Maguire.
Relationship between Premier League and Everton has soured
The Premier League and Everton are probably sick of the sight of each other when it comes to matters of governance.
As well as the long-running PSR drama, which will see Everton face another hearing later this year, the Premier League will also be involved with ratifying the takeover when it eventually does happen.
And the relationship between Everton and the Premier League has reportedly soured to the point that the club voted against a £37m pay package for the league’s employees.
Could this have an effect on how the takeover process pans out for Everton?
“It is a bit like a divorce when you both have to go to the solicitors together,” he said.
“You know you have to be there, but they are the last people on the planet you want to see.
“The consensus at Everton is that the PSR punishment was disproportionate to the extent of the offence.
“They feel they have been unfairly singled out by the Premier League.
“Ultimately, the decisions in terms of how they are going to vote are coming from Moshiri.
“He is unpredictable. He is a loose cannon in so many ways.
“He has betrayed Everton fans in terms of his very poor ownership of the club.
“This is part of a broader issue. He is trying to claim that he is not the problem and wants to lay the blame for Everton’s issues at the door of the Premier League.
“If you talk to Evertonians, they don’t like the Premier League but they see Moshiri as a far bigger issue in terms of the broader financial challenges of the club.“
Moshiri’s £50m demand will be a stumbling block in Everton takeover
It also emerged recently that current owner Farhad Moshiri is demanding £50m for his 94 per cent stake in Everton despite the club’s enormous debts, which are in excess of £600m.
If the British-Iranian businessman is unwilling to budge from that valuation, it could seriously affect the number of buyers willing to do a deal, claims Maguire.
“My perception of the value of the club is that I can’t see much, if anything, beyond the outstanding debt.
“That means that the equity value is close to zero.
“I have had long conversations with well-connected people at Everton, and they say that there is not a lot of interest in Everton for the price that Moshiri is trying to get.
“The problem is that Moshiri is so skint. He probably needs £25m to £50m to sort himself out, and that is proving to be a stumbling block.
“As well as that, there is the overhang from the 777 Partners debt.”
Moshiri sets Everton takeover deadline
Elsewhere, it has been reported that Moshiri has set an eight-week deadline to get a takeover deal over the line.
Is this realistic? Maguire doesn’t think so, and it looks as though Everton fans will have to deal with the uncertainty for some time yet.
“I think getting a deal over the line in eight weeks is unrealistic given that we don’t even have a preferred bidder at the moment.
“I do agree that Everton will have some cash flow challenges as we get into late autumn. That is where my concerns lie.
“To date, we have had both 777 and the Friedkin Group come in as preferred bidders and be so confident of getting a deal over the line that they have lent the club substantial sums of money.
“I think any potential owner will not necessarily be as keen to go down that route having seen the last two failures as a cautionary tale.
“Moshiri’s second deadline is just sort of him shouting into the void. He doesn’t have anything to back that up.”
Related Topics
English Premier LeagueEvertonFarhad MoshiriFootball Finance

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Transfers
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£25m player now set to hold talks with his manager about exit as Everton lurk
Everton are still in the market for a new striker this summer as Sean Dyche continues preparations for the 2024/25 campaign.
The Toffees have already bolstered their attack with the signing of a versatile forward in Iliman Ndiaye, although a traditional No.9 remains on the wishlist to compete with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Beto.
Now – in a new update – a striker wanted by Everton is about to hold talks with his manager regarding an exit…
Armando Broja set for talks with Enzo Maresca as Everton monitor situation
An update by Jack Rosser now states that Armando Broja is set for a chat with Enzo Maresca – with the Albania international looking for a permanent exit from Chelsea.
Armando Broja will hold talks with Enzo Maresca ahead of an expected move after returning home.
Wants a permanent move.
Chelsea want £25m, Wolves keen as are Everton, only were Calvert-Lewin to leave. Southampton expressed interest but won’t meet valuation. #CFC #WWFC #SaintsFC
— Jack Rosser (@JackRosser_) August 7, 2024
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It is said that the Blues want £25m to sell the man from Slough.
Kieran Gill of the Daily Mail has also revealed that Everton are keen to sign the Chelsea No.19 this summer – with Wolves monitoring the situation as well.
Armando Broja will hold talks with Enzo Maresca in London to figure out future. Everton and Wolves like Chelsea’s 22yo striker. Appeared for 72 minutes in total in USA over the five friendlies. Story on @MailSport
— Kieran Gill (@kierangill_DM) August 7, 2024
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Broja made just six Premier League starts for Chelsea last season before moving to Fulham on loan in January, where he was only handed eight appearances from the bench.
The 22-year-old seems destined to leave Stamford Bridge this summer as Chelsea attempt to sign both Victor Osimhen and Samu Omorodion, to add to a frontline that already contains Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku, Marc Guiu, Raheem Sterling, David Datro Fofana and Romelu Lukaku, among others.
Kevin Thelwell must strike loan with option to buy
In our view, it would be madness to spend £25m on Broja given the circumstances.
For one, the Chelsea academy graduate only recently recovered from severe anterior cruciate ligament damage, so if he were to suffer a setback next season, Everton would surely regret splashing £25m on his services.
Broja also scored just two goals in 27 appearances last season – regardless of his injury, that is not a return befitting a £25m striker.
Therefore, Kevin Thelwell – Director of Football at Goodison Park – should try to agree an initial loan deal with Chelsea which includes an option, not obligation, to buy him on a permanent deal next summer.
Effectively, it would be a way of having Broja on a trial period, before committing to a £25m payment.
