Stefan Borson: Everton takeover now faces 'owner and directors test' issues

John Textor could be asked to answer some difficult questions by the Premier League in his bid to buy Everton following links to wealthy Russian businessmen.

That is the view of finance expert Stefan Borson, who exclusively told Football Insider the American is going to face “significant challenges” as he looks to secure an Everton takeover.

Textor has entered a period of exclusivity to buy owner Farhad Moshiri’s 94.1-per-cent stake at Goodison Park.

But one complication is the 58-year-old’s 45-per-cent stake in Crystal Palace, with Premier League rules forbidding ownership of two clubs in the same division.

Palace are one of four teams Textor’s company Eagle Football Holdings owns shares in, with majority stakes in French side Lyon, Brazilian first division outfit Botafogo and Belgian side RWD Molenbeek.

A report by Brazilian news outlet ICL Noticias on 21 August claimed Textor has links to several people connected to the Russian oligarchy.

John Textor could face Premier League issue in Everton takeover

Borson suggested that could present issues around the Premier League’s owners’ and directors’ test if the details in that report are found to be true.

He told Football Insider: “As I understand it, the person that wrote that article is a serious investigative journalist, so it is worth reading for Everton fans.

“It’s a three-part series, but it is quite hard to translate the precise allegations.

“But clearly, it suggests that Textor is involved with wealthy Russians.

“If all of that is true, then it will give rise to issues around owners’ and directors’ tests.

“We know from the 777 situation that the Premier League will be quite thorough in their questioning of the potential owner of Everton.

“They will set certain parameters and conditions in terms of its approval.

“That may well require Textor to answer some difficult questions to the Premier League in the way that difficult questions have been asked previously of people like 777, who ultimately could not get around the conditions that were put in place.

“I think all of this shows the significant challenges that Textor is going to face in trying to buy Everton.”

In other news, expert reacts to “exclusive” Everton takeover development.

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