'Complications surrounding the debt is a major concern'
- Published
Everton are back on the market again and the Friedkin Group were the fourth party over the past two years to be granted exclusivity by owner Farhad Moshiri without completing a takeover, after 777 Partners, Maciek Kaminski and MSP Sports Capital.
They had agreed a deal in principle on 14 June, leapfrogging five other rival bidders for a detailed survey of the club's books.
A consortium led by Kevin Malone, former general manager of American baseball club the LA Dodgers, made a takeover offer and was willing to commit more than £78m for football operations this year.
The complications surrounding the debt is a major concern and Â鶹ԼÅÄ Sport has been told by Malone his group is "seriously evaluating the opportunity" before deciding whether to reignite their interest.
A consortium of international investors, which involved a member of the Saudi royal family, made a £400m offer and a UK-based investment firm, backed by two 'western billionaires', also made a bid.
It remains to be seen whether either of these parties will return to the table.
Meanwhile, a £200m loan provided by the Friedkin Group paid off a £158m loan to the club from MSP Sports Capital and local businessmen Andy Bell and George Downing, with the remainder covering the costs for the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.
The club's cash flow will also soon be improved by receiving - if they haven't already - the next portion of Premier League broadcasting revenue which is worth around £30-40m.
The financial situation was strengthened by selling forward Lewis Dobbin to Aston Villa and defender Ben Godfrey to Atalanta for a combined £20m before the 2023-24 profit and sustainability deadline on 30 June, while midfielder Amadou Onana also left for Villa in a £50m deal earlier this week.