Everton could have ‘very happy Christmas’ as Dan Friedkin makes £21m transfer play

When it comes to Dan Friedkin’s takeover of Everton, it is a matter of when and not if. However, with the club crying out for reinforcements in the January, the ‘when’ could be crucial.

After months of talks and logistics, Friedkin has agreed to take over from Farhad Moshiri in a deal that is believed to value the club at around £500m.

Moshiri himself is unlikely to see a penny of that sum, with the capital instead going towards clearing Everton’s debt.

There are still a number of hurdles to clear, however.

The one that has occupied the most headspace for Everton fans in recent weeks and months is the outstanding legal case involving former takeover suitor 777 Partners.

777 lent Everton around £200m as part of their attempts to buy the club, but that debt has since been claimed by A-CAP following 777’s liquidation.

A-CAP are now the targets of a lawsuit from London-based finance firm Leadenhall, who have made the £200m loan subject to an injunction.

Though this is no way Everton’s fault, it has complicated the timeline for Friedkin’s takeover.

It has emerged in the last few hours that A-CAP have been handed an ’emergency order’ which, per journalist Paul Brown, dictates that they should “cease writing new business”.

The implications for the Everton takeover are not entirely clear, although those initially consulted by TBR Football have tentatively suggested it will not alter the chronology a great deal.

The expected takeover date? According to several outlets, The Friedkin Group expect the deal to be completed by the end of the month.

Everton takeover timeline assessed by finance expert

To gauge how likely it is that Friedkin will indeed be in situ in time for the January transfer window, TBR spoke to Liverpool University football finance lecturer and industry insider Kieran Maguire.

“It’s a demanding deadline but it still can be achieved,” he said.