Dan Friedkin could now instantly recoup Everton £550m takeover fee

At last, there is light at the end of the tunnel for Everton. With Dan Friedkin’s takeover a formality, they can look towards concentrating on Premier League survival and streamlining their finances.

 

The takeover saga has rumbled on for well over two years, with Friedkin one of five parties to have entered into exclusive talks with Farhad Moshiri in that time.

That has been a major distraction for Everton boss Sean Dyche and sporting director Kevin Thelwell, who have had to steer the club through the turbulence on the pitch.

But the Friedkin takeover will relieve the strain significantly, reducing the club’s enormous debt burden and clearing the runway for Everton to land at their new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock next season.

 

To explore what the future looks like for Everton in the Friedkin era, TRB Football spoke exclusively to Liverpool University football finance lecturer, Price of Football author, and industry insider Kieran Maguire.

Dan Friedkin’s in-tray

Given the extent of the issues at Everton, what will be Friedkin’s top priorities after the deal to buy the club from Moshiri is complete?

 

Maguire pointed to a combination of addressing regulatory issues, getting on top of recruitment, and Everton’s imminent PSR hearing, which could yield their third points deduction in two seasons.

 

“If and when Dan Friedkin takes over, I suspect there will be two lists, one longer than the other.

“One will be the players that the managers and the director of football would like to purchase in an ideal environment. The other will be a list of players that Everton can actually afford to buy given their position under PSR.

 

“There is still an outstanding charge against Everton with regards to the way that interest has been borrowed for the Bramley Moore Dock project.

 

“That is very much relating to a relatively narrow interpretation of accounting rules and the capitalisation of loans, but it could impact Everton this season.

 

“Although, I’m sure that fans will be buoyed by their victory over Crystal Palace.”