The period of exclusivity for takeover talks between Everton and a consortium led by Peter Kenyon has expired and will not be extended.
It is understood that Everton owner Farhad Moshiri is now moving on from discussions with the group which also included businessmen Maciek Kaminski and John Thornton.
There were conflicting claims, however, from sources close to the Kaminskis, who insisted that Moshiri has promised to continue negotiations over the weekend and that the consortium’s bid remains very much alive.
Everton had allowed the consortium, fronted by former Chelsea and Manchester United chief executive Kenyon, to conduct due diligence on the club with a view to a takeover.
However, The Times revealed this week that the commercial property firm run by the American investor Kaminski had defaulted on loans and auditors had raised doubts about its future, according to financial documents.
Kaminski, known as ‘MG’, was said to be providing the bulk of the funding for the £500 million-plus takeover of the club.
The consortium had promised to commit hundreds of millions of pounds more to complete the club’s new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock and invest in players.
The most recent annual report for Kaminski’s property company Talon Real Estate Holdings Corp, in 2017, states it defaulted on several loans and that auditors raised “substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern.”
Other groups had contacted Moshiri about the sale of the club he bought in 2016 and have held talks.
However, Moshiri’s immediate commitment is to secure financing and deliver Everton’s proposed new stadium as well strengthening the first-team playing squad.
Everton were forced to sell Richarlison for £60 million to Tottenham Hotspur before July 1 in order to comply with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.
Manager Frank Lampard now has room for manoeuvre in the market and is holding an interest in free agent Jesse Lingard having already signed James Tarkowski on a free transfer following his departure from Burnley.
