Dan Friedkin expected to return for Everton takeover as John Textor deemed unserious

Dan Friedkin is expected to return for an Everton takeover by sources close to the process, according to Paul Brown.

The journalist reported via X on 29 August that John Textor has been in talks with investors over joining his own bid to buy the club from Farhad Moshiri but is not seen as a “serious bidder” by some.

The American is the latest to reach an exclusivity agreement with the current owner, according to The Athletic on 15 August, but still holds 45% of Crystal Palace which he must sell before he could complete a buy out.

Brown wrote: “Textor has held talks with other investors re joining him in a bid for Everton. However, some sources close to the process do not regard him as a serious bidder, and are saying they expect Friedkin to return to the table. Other parties remain interested.”

Dan Friedkin left Everton deal with Farhad Moshiri over 777 debt

Textor reportedly has a pair of bids ready to offload his Palace shares fast [Sky News, 26 August] which would be one big step towards making him a more serious bidder.

But there is some confusion over his status as prospective new Everton owner when he released a statement on his website on 22 August explaining he had made another attempt to buy the rest of the Eagles first.

The Toffees’ need for somebody viable to take the club of Moshiri’s hands will only grow with each passing day, with the cash available at the the club predicted to start running out in the next two to three months [Kieran Maguire, 31 July].

Friedkin abandoned his own exclusivity agreement on the basis of uncertainty around the status of debt built up to former buyers 777 Partners and the potential legal consequences, as well as a deteriorating relationship with Moshiri [Price of Football, 23 July].