The Everton takeover saga is rumbling on with Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor now in the mix to buy the club – but there are some recent developments you might have missed.
Farhad Moshiri has been attempting to sell his 94 per cent stake in the Toffees for well over a year now, but the Premier League’s refusal to ratify the takeover bid of 777 Partners has kyboshed his ambitions.
The Miami-based investment firm, who have already lent the club close to £200m, have until 31 May to prove that they can finance the club going forward.
But Moshiri is now exploring alternative options, with private equity group MSP Sports Capital and Textor the two favourites to be the British-Iranian billionaire’s successor.
Here are some updates from the last 24 hours that may have gone under the radar.
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Textor comes under fire from supporters of Belgian club
American billionaire Textor has announced his plans to divest his 45 per cent stake in Crystal Palace in order to pursue a full takeover of Everton.
Textor owns a number of clubs worldwide, including Lyon in France and Botafogo in Brazil, both of whom have had relatively successful seasons. But all is not well within his football empire
Mirroring developments at Everton last week, the supporter federation of Textor-owned RWD Molenbeek have demanded to meet with the 58-year-old following their relegation from the Belgian Pro League.
The organisation has received no response three weeks on from their relegation, sparking concern that Textor’s priorities now lie elsewhere – with Everton, perhaps.
777 Partners football director closes in on Newcastle United job
While the likes of Josh Wander and Steve Pasko’s football reputations have been damaged – probably irreparably – by the ongoing disintegration of the 777 empire, some have emerged with their name intact.
According to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth, Johannes Spors has held ‘positive’ talks with Newcastle United over the sporting director role vacated by Man United-bound Dan Ashworth.
Spors is the sporting director of 777 Partners’ football division, which encompasses Vasco da Gama, Standard Liege, Genoa, Red Star FC and Hertha Berlin, with minority involveement in Sevilla and Melbourne Victory.
The money appears to have dried up at 777 and, with Spors now seeking alternative employment, it looks as though there is no chance of a revival of their bid to buy Everton.
Vasco da Gama fans demand answers over 777 assets
Just as Textor’s involvement in Belgium has turned sour, so too has 777 Partners’ in Brazil.
They effectively lost control of the club by order of the Brazilian courts earlier this month and they are now facing requests for further clarity from influential individuals at Vasco da Gama.
The four-time Brazilian champions became part of the 777 network as part of a £107m deal just two years ago.
But now more than 60 members of Vasco’s powerful deliberative council have signed a letter seeking clarity over assets sold by the previous regime to the group.
Again, further proof that, with 777 now fighting on multiple fronts with ongoing financial, legal and sporting issues across several continents, the Everton takeover is not happening.