'I understand...' - BBC's Giulia Bould issues Everton takeover update amid exclusivity wait

Dan Friedkin’s Everton takeover deal with Farhad Moshiri is still a way off yet, according to Giulia Bould.

The BBC Sport journalist reported via the broadcaster’s Toffees page on their website (17 June, 2.52pm) that there remains a “way to go” before the American is granted exclusivity by the majority shareholder at Goodison Park.

Roma owner Friedkin, 59, emerged at the head of the takeover race on Friday 14 June, as Sky Sports reported that Moshiri had accepted his offer with exclusivity expected over the following 48 hours, but that has not yet happened and Bould suggests it isn’t imminent.

Bould said: “I understand Dan Friedkin remains in pole position to buy Farhad Moshiri’s majority share in the Toffees, but there is still a way to go before the deal is done.

“Even if the Roma owner gets an exclusivity deal put in place to begin the purchase of Moshiri’s 94% stake, there will also have to be the Premier League owners and directors test, plus regulatory approvals.

“However, it is fair to say the process should not take as long as the, now failed, takeover by 777 Partners.”

Everton takeover by Dan Friedkin expected to be faster than 777 Partners process

In light of the repeated twists in the club’s takeover sage over the past couple of seasons any delays to the presumed agreement with Friedkin will lead to fears that it could collapse.

Some sources have already suggested that the deal could indeed still fall through [Bloomberg, 15 June], although there has yet to be any indication that there is any particular stumbling block that would cause it to do so.

But Evertonians will be anxious for the process to move forward quickly this summer in the hope that the club might finally have its future direction sorted before the new campaign starts.

The failed 777 bid lingered throughout last season and, coupled with points deductions and appeals, the uncertainty is unlikely to have had a positive effect on Sean Dyche’s squad.

Moshiri extended his exclusivity agreement with the embattled American firm multiple times despite them never showing the Premier League sufficient evidence of the required funding.

But, assuming Friedkin secures such a deal himself, there doesn’t look to be reason to believe that he would have any similar difficulty in coming up with the money.

In other Everton news, the Toffees have been threatened over a transfer breakdown by a rival club.

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