Everton owner Farhad Moshiri wants the club to concentrate on the Premier League survival fight rather than imminent investment as the Toffees face a pivotal week that could determine their future.
i understands that Moshiri is staying tight-lipped on the prospect of Everton welcoming new investors, preferring the club to focus on Sunday’s make-or-break home fixture against Bournemouth despite talks with MSP Sports Capital reaching an advanced stage. They are understood to be ‘close’ to taking a stake in the club and sparking wholesale changes.
That means all but a handful of senior club employees are being kept in the loop about the club’s future ownership situation despite the potential prospect of a deal being announced shortly after the season finishes this week.
Everton are in control of their own destiny but require a win to make sure of safety, and are likely have to do it without Dominic Calvert-Lewin, their most potent attacking weapon. The club have just Neal Maupay or Ellis Simms as recognised specialist strikers after a failure in January to strengthen.
Full-back Nathan Patterson, their only specialist in that position, also looks set to miss the game while Everton are waiting to see if Vitalii Mykolenko will recover. If both are missing that will force Sean Dyche to deploy Dwight McNeil in a more defensive role.
That, understandably, has caused anxiety for Everton’s long-suffering support.
But the prospect of a new era at Goodison Park hovers over the horizon whatever the conclusion of the relegation battle.
i can confirm Everton have entered exclusivity with MSP Sports Capital, who are ready to take a minority stake of around 25 per cent in the club.
Everton require funding to complete the construction of their stadium, which is set to open in July 2024, with costs now escalating to an estimated £500m, and MSP Capital have moved ahead of 777 Partners, which was eyeing a full takeover of the club.
MSP, whose chairman is Iranian-American billionaire Jahm Najafi, want to play an active role in the club’s running and seats on the board are expected to follow, with changes to the structure of the club also anticipated.
Their portfolio includes Brondby, Augsburg and Estoril and they favour data-driven recruitment, which could be integrated further into Everton’s flawed transfer policy.
Meanwhile the club have triggered Abdoulaye Doucoure’s one-year contract extension after a series of impressive performances under Dyche. i reported in March the club would move to keep him after he returned from being exiled from the squad under Frank Lampard.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/vVGBa2c
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