Beesley drops Everton takeover news

Everton journalist Christopher Beesley has now revealed some encouraging takeover news.

The Lowdown: Kenyon talks

As per The Daily Telegraph, a group headed by former Manchester United and Chelsea CEO Peter Kenyon are in the early stages of talks to buy the Merseyside club from Farhad Moshiri.

Moshiri values the Goodison Park outfit at over £500m, once all of their debt is taken into account.

The Latest: Beesley update

When asked for a takeover update by a supporter during a Q&A session for The Liverpool Echo, Beesley revealed that Kenyon’s interest is indeed ‘firm’, and that it came from initial talks over potential investment in their proposed new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock:

“It’s my understanding that the interest is indeed firm and it’s also my understanding that it came from initial talks over potential stadium investment that developed into discussions over a potential full-blown takeover.

“Whatever the reasons, whether it’s frustrations over the lack of on-the-field progress during his tenure and the relegation near-miss last season, the vastly different financial landscape caused by the global pandemic and now the war in Ukraine (which has also prompted him to end his long-time business relationship with the sanctioned Alisher Usmanov, who was a significant Everton sponsor) it looks like Farhad Moshiri is considering selling the club now.

“Whether the club does end up being sold or not, it could be a lengthy process and we must all hope that Everton doesn’t suffer in the meantime because of it.”

The Verdict: Encouraging

It is certainly encouraging to hear that Kenyon’s interest is ‘firm’, and that Moshiri is indeed ‘considering’ selling up.

Concerns have been held over the Toffees’ recent financial losses, and added to the costs of building the new stadium, this summer may be the best time for a takeover.

Moshiri’s tenure has not exactly been a successful one, as years of signing big-money flops finally came back to bite them last season, where they were almost relegated from the Premier League.

Nonetheless, to get as much as £500m for the Blues now would be ‘amazing‘, according to top-flight manager turned pundit Alex McLeish, and so this is a deal that both Moshiri and Kenyon should be looking to get done as soon as possible.