Dan Friedkin’s proposed takeover of Everton has reached a turning point and the club is now as good as officially his property, according to Tutto Mercato Web.
The Italian outlet reported on their website on the evening of 18 June that within the past few hours there had been a breakthrough on the American’s expected buy out of Farhad Moshiri.
Friedkin’s group, owner of Serie A side Roma, will reportedly pay the Toffees majority shareholder €475million [£401m] for his 94.1 per cent holding in the club.
The news comes as Everton have been linked to the Giallorossi’s Eduardo Bove, according to Sky Sports in Italy, raising the prospect of a potential deal within the Friedkin stable once he completes his takeover at Goodison Park.
Roma owner makes Everton breakthrough
It would be welcome news if the deal between Friedkin and Moshiri has reached a critical breakthrough as any delays open the door to further uncertainty.
There has been more than enough of that when it comes to the ownership situation on Merseyside after 37 weeks through last season where 777 Partners failed to take advantage of their own exclusivity agreement.
Friedkin shouldn’t have the same issues in dealing with the Premier League if he is now set to be given the same opportunity, with the film producer estimated to be worth $6.1billion [£4.8bn] by Forbes.
Despite surging to the head of the field and bypassing bids from MSP Sports Capital, Andy Bell and George Downing, a Vatche Manoukian-led consortium, and Vici Private Finance on 14 June an announcement has not yet emerged.
There had even been suggestions that the matter wasn’t as close as had been widely reported and rivals still remained interested thanks to the possibility that the deal could fall through [Bloomberg, 15 June].
So while the wait for official word from Moshiri continues but the indications from Italy are that the takeover is essentially locked in.
