Bloomberg report that The Friedkin Group are looking to revive their plans to complete a takeover of Everton just two months after walking away from talks with Farhad Moshiri.
Citing sources familiar with the situation, Jill Shah, Silas Brown, and David Hellier say that Texas billionaire Dan Friedkin is “in talks with stakeholders” over the feasibility of another offer for Moshiri’s stake in the Club, although they temper their report by saying that there is no guarantee it would result in a bid.
The Telegraph are similarly circumspect, suggesting that Friedkin “is understood to have been monitoring developments throughout the summer as Moshiri’s hunt for a buyer becomes increasingly desperate” while also being of the mind that the longer the situation drags on, the more the Anglo-Iranian needs to be realistic about his demands.
The Friedkin Group were granted a period of exclusivity to negotiate with Moshiri earlier this year and appeared close to finalising a deal before they abandoned the takeover bid due to the legal complexities of the £200m loaned to Everton by former bidders 777 Partners.
777, together with chief lender A-Cap, are embroiled in a civil case in New York with London-based Leadenhall Capital Partners suing the Miami-based investment firm for $600m they say was “double-pledged”.
If Friedkin, whose firm also loaned the Club around £200m, is indeed ready to re-enter into negotiations over buying Everton, it would follow a similar playbook to his acquisition of AS Roma where he stepped away from talks before returning to purchase the Italian club in a $700m deal.
He would also be going up against fellow American businessman, John Textor, who has also held extensive talks with Moshiri in recent weeks and is reportedly close to finding a buyer for his Eagle Football Group’s 45% stake in Crystal Palace which would open up his pathway to buy Everton.