Four new Everton takeover updates as Farhad Moshiri now demanding £50m pay-off

Farhad Moshiri is demanding a £50m pay-off at Everton amid the latest takeover developments on Merseyside.

After a period of exclusive talks with Moshiri, AS Roma owner Dan Friedkin has pulled out of the running to buy Everton.

The American multi-billionaire cited ‘unresolvable’ differences for pulling the plug, with the group’s debt with previous takeover suitors 777 Partners believed to be the main point of contention.

As well as a issues with Profit and Sustainability Rules, the last two years for Everton fans have been characterised by uncertainty about the future ownership of the club.

And their purgatory now looks set to continue into the start of 2024-25.

However, nine groups in total were linked with an Everton takeover before the Friedkin negotiations came to a juddering halt.

And at least a handful of those now appear to be back in the running.

Three bidders emerge amid Moshiri pay-off demands

As reported by The Sun, British-Iranian investor Moshiri is believed to be demanding £50m to exit the club, comprised of an upfront fee plus annual instalments.

This has raised eyebrows given that, if he leaves the club in the near future, it will be saddled with nearly £600m worth of debt which a new owner will be required to service.

In separate news, The Athletic‘s Matt Slater has reported that at least three parties are likely to emerge as candidates to buy the club.

London-headquartered private equity firm Vici Private Finance and a group led by the entrepreneur Vatche Manoukian are said to be ready to re-enter talks with Moshiri.

Slater also claimed that another unnamed group are also in the mix and that more information would be forthcoming soon.

The finance expert and former Man City advisor Stefan Borson meanwhile has suggested that Amanda Staveley’s exit from Newcastle could be “perfect timing” for Everton.

Through investment vehicle PCP Capital Partners, Staveley has raised £500m and is said to be eyeing another football investment.

However, Tottenham and AS Monaco are the only two clubs that the Middle East financier is said to have explored at this moment in time.

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TBR Analysis: Who will take over Everton?

Middle East sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions and private equity groups are invariably linked to any opportunity for Premier League takeover.

An unnamed Qatari group was previously linked with a deal to buy the club, but there has been no update since those reports several months ago.

From a purely financial point of view, a sovereign wealth fund might be the ideal scenario for Everton given that they generally do not expect a return on their investment.

The debt is a significant factor. Friedkin has taken over a loan from previous takeover hopefuls 777 Partners and Everton are believed to be set to pay over £60m in interest this year alone.

Any group who takes over will need to prove to the Premier League that they have the financial muscle to fund those repayments as well as the club’s day-to-day operational expenses and the remaining costs of the Bramley Moore Dock construction project.