'Friedkins to tell Everton players they can leave': 'Massive' takeover latest

The Friedkin Group’s takeover of Everton could be used as a way to move certain players out of the club, Phil Jagielka has suggested.

After a long period of negotiations, it has now been claimed that the US-based groups move to buy Farhad Moshiri’s 94.1% controlling stake in the Toffees is a done deal.

There will be plenty for the new owners to deal with including a squad that has 13 players currently due to leave at the end of this season, when their contracts or loans expire.

Jagielka has now suggested that even if some of those may be keen to extend their stay at Everton, the takeover will give the club the opportunity to finally deliver clarity and make a move on those they do not want to keep.

Speaking to The Liverpool Echo about what the takeover might mean for the squad, the former England international – who made 385 appearances for the Toffees between 2007 and 2019 – said:

“What’s happening off the field will have had a massive impact in the changing room – I’m not particularly saying on the pitch, but I think I’m right in saying half the squad at least is either on loan or coming up to having their contracts renewed.

“You’ll have players who want to stay but aren’t allowed to stay yet or can’t get the deal they potentially want, and then the club can use that (the takeover situation) for the players they don’t want to potentially keep, so there’s so many bits and bobs that can be factored in when the ownership hasn’t been sorted out.

“So if we can get the takeover done – we’d like it today, tomorrow or within a week but preferably before the transfer window – we can get things moving in the right direction and we can hopefully secure the players we want to keep, give a straight-up answer to the players who potentially won’t be here next season, and hopefully get a chance to go and strengthen in January. That would be the perfect scenario for the club.”

Everton takeover could lead to player exits

Football Insider Opinion

There may well be some nervous players in the dressing room at Goodison Park amid the latest news on this takeover.

It is clear that the Friedkins are walking into a club in a challenging situation after what has happened at Everton in recent years.

They may therefore need to raise funds from wherever they can so selling players for something while they can in January, rather than letting them leave on a free when their contracts expire in the summer, may be sensible.

Indeed, clubs often make significant alterations after such a big change as this, so there would be scope for them to move players out of the club now this takeover is done.

With that in mind, there is a possibility we will soon be seeing a rather different Everton squad than the one that is currently on show.

But considering they are still not out of a relegation battle this season, they will have to make sure they are improving their squad in these changes are to be made in the January transfer window.

In other news, a Ligue 1 club are interested in signing an Everton player in the January transfer window.

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