Welcome to our Everton live blog for Wednesday, September 20.
Reports this week revealed that the Blues are believed to have received a 'sizeable loan' from the investment firm, 777 Partners.
The ECHO understands the loan is for both the club and stadium company side and arrived following the agreement between the two parties on Friday.
It was confirmed last Friday Moshiri had agreed a deal to sell his 94.1% Everton shareholding to the American group. The organisation hopes to complete its takeover of the club before the end of this year. The move would see Everton added to a portfolio of teams 777 has already either invested in or acquired that includes Hertha Berlin, Sevilla and Standard Liege.
It would bring an end to Moshiri’s troubled reign at Everton, a tenure that has seen the club move backwards despite hundreds of millions of pounds being spent on transfers and the launch of the development of a new waterfront stadium.
We will keep you informed on the latest takeover talk throughout the day.
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Keep tabs on the latest news, views and Everton FC transfer rumours below.
Sean Dyche and 777 Partners hold 'positive discussions' amid takeover
Prospective Everton owners 777 Partners have reportedly been at Finch Farm this week.
According to Alan Myers, co-founder Josh Wander met Sean Dyche and Director of Football Kevin Thelwell, discussions between the respective parties are said to have been described as "extremely positive".
In a series of tweets, the Sky Sports news editor discussed the 'untrue' reports that MSP Sports Captial could block the takeover, as well as the feeling within the Miami-based investment firm.
He said: "The regulatory process to allow 777 Partners to take over ownership of Everton is well underway and progressing
"Co-founder Josh Wander was at FF on Tuesday to meet Manager Sean Dyche and Director of Football Kevin Thelwell with the discussions described as 'extremely positive’.
"Reports that MSP Sports Capital, who agreed a loan to provide funding for the club's new stadium at BMD, could block the takeover by calling in its loan are untrue. Whilst Rights and Media funding, have given full consent for the 777 deal to proceed.
"It's no secret that Everton has financial issues and investment is crucial for the club to move forward, 777 Partners have already provided interim financial support ahead of closing the deal to buy the club from Moshiri, which will be used, in part, for Working Capital.
"However, the feeling within 777 is that it's Multi-club model (they have interests in several clubs including Hertha Berlin, Standard Liege and Genoa) will see a restructuring of Everton to achieve a stable financial club, something fans have called for, for some time."
Brentford build-up: A battle of heads?
It takes all 11 players in a team using their heads to win a football match. In the figurative sense definitely, but also in the literal sense.
Free-kicks and corners are going to be of vital importance according to the Premier League's latest data, which states that Brentford lead the way for set-pieces leading to shots in 2023/24, having taken 26 in their opening five matches, whilst Everton are third on the list having taken 24.
The likes of Beto, James Tarkowski, Ethan Pinnock and Ben Mee will all have to be on top form - let the mind ga- sorry, head games commence!
Moises Kean frustration
Juventus are without European competition this season and so only have to focus on Serie A. That's been going well for them so far, with Max Allegri settling on a line-up that has started the season unbeaten (three wins, one draw).
However one man who isn't so keen is a certain Moises Kean.
Just six months after completing a £25m permanent exit from Everton back to his boyhood club, the Italian striker is said Calcio Mercato to be unhappy with his situation in Turin, wanting more game time than is being provided at present.
Also Nottingham Forest and AC Milan reportedly sent proposals to sign the 23-year-old in summer, both of which were waved away.
Premier League rivals' Everton takeover concerns
Is anything ever simple?
The Mail Online are reporting that 'a number of' Premier League club owners are to raise concerns about 777 Partners' proposed acquisition of Everton. This is said to relate to uncertainty over how the company will fund the deal and also the reputational damage it could cause the league given several court cases 777 are involved with in the United States.
This is nothing new, Newcastle went through the same scrutiny and look how that turned out. It is also not up to other clubs, as takeovers are an exception to member club votes on league issues.
Something to keep an eye on at least...
Billy Crellin rewarded with fresh contract
Some contract news coming out of Finch Farm this afternoon - Billy Crellin has signed a new deal that runs through to 2025.
The 23-year-old goalkeeper signed from Fleetwood Town in January 2022, has featured for the Under-21s and also trained with the first-team.
"I’m over the moon to be extending my stay here,” Crellin told the club's website. “It means everything for me and my family because we’re all Evertonians.
"It was a dream when I was a kid and coming to watch Premier League games here, so I’m just living a childhood dream."
Goalkeeper Billy Crellin has signed a new contract with #EFC until the end of June 2025.
— Everton Academy (@EvertonAcademy) September 20, 2023
Joel Piroe makes Premier League admission
Leeds United summer signing Joel Piroe has revealed why he opted to join the Yorkshire club over making the leap up to the Premier League, with Everton previously mentioned as an interested party.
The Dutchman made 88 appearances for Swansea in the second-tier over two seasons, scoring 41 goals in the process. Some suggested he would be ready to move up a division, but the man himself wants to take his career step-by-step.
Speaking to the press ahead of their next match, he said: "Well, I didn’t play really for the play-offs or directly for promotion [whilst at Swansea] and that’s one thing I needed to check off for myself, I think. Also being able to play a lot in the Premier League.
"It’s a big decision to make if you want to jump there [into the Premier League]. Or, try to get promoted with someone and earn your spot in the team first."
Brentford build-up: Rico Henry injury
Along with their first defeat of the season last weekend, Brentford confirmed that left back Rico Henry will require surgery on an knee injury that should sideline him for the remainder of the season.
It is unfortunate to see any player receive such news, but all Sean Dyche and his men can do is ruthlessly consider the matter as a bonus heading into the weekend's fixture. They have to if they want to get a win on the board.
Thomas Frank will be forced to reshuffle his pack with no clear alternative, leaving Everton with a question of their own as to how to exploit it.
So far the 4-5-1 has been the manager's formation of choice, and that could prove handy on the attack with the correct personnel involved. Imagine Arnaut Danjuma on the right, James Garner on the right side of a midfield three and Beto working off the ball to create an overload on that flank.
This would leave two other midfielders to cover and Jack Harrison to potentially arrive off the bench, should he be deemed fit enough to play.
Tom Cannon injury claim
A slightly bizarre, confident, yet admirably honest line from Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca here.
Tom Cannon made the deadline day permament transfer from Everton to the Foxes for around £7.5m. The relegated side stormed in to beat a host of second-tier clubs to his signature - a good signing on the surface of it given the striker's tally of eight goals in four months on loan at Preston last year.
However he hasn't been able to feature for his new club yet due to injury, something Maresca says he was aware of when jumping the queue for Cannon.
"It is a long-term investment it doesn’t mean we don’t need him now," he told BBC Radio Leicester. We prefer to be careful with that and make all the checks that we need to do.
"We found a problem when he signed. At the moment he is not even training with us, so it will be quite long-term I guess. We still don’t know how long."
Leicester have been flying in the Championship and look to be right amongst the automatic promotion candidates for an immediate return to the Premier League. If they achieve this, Cannon would have the stage to perform at the highest level and potentially increase his value beyond the fee received this summer.
Should Sean Dyche have given him a chance?
Everton coach sets Tom Cannon and Stanley Mills challenge as winless start to season goes on
Everton Under-21 coach Paul Tait has challenged his players to learn from the examples of Tom Cannon and Stanley Mills in last season's EFL Trophy campaign after his young side fell to an opening group game defeat to Doncaster.
Cannon went on loan to Preston for the second of last season and has now departed the Blues permanently for Leicester City whilst Mills has been given a loan opportunity at Oxford United for 2023/24.
"We love this tournament because of what it does for the young players, it brings them on so much. I just used some of the lads from last season as an example for the younger boys tonight – the likes of Tom Cannon and Stanley Mills – they really blossomed last season and it gives them the confidence to go toe-to-toe with older, more-experienced players and it gives them that belief," Tait explained after the full-time whistle.
Seeing some young Blues step up again this season and potentially earn themselves a shot at stardom in Sean Dyche's first-team squad would certainly be a positive sight.
Read the full story HERE.
Graham Potter suggestion
Well, this is bold...
Former Everton midfielder Don Hutchison thinks the club should already be considering parting ways with Sean Dyche five matches into the campaign so that they could bring in ex-Chelsea and Brighton manager Graham Potter.
The Engishman is of course known for the excellent job he did to build the Seagulls into a fighting force, then trading that all in to move to West London where he lasted only 206 days.
His league record at the time of leaving Chelsea was seven wins, seven draws and eight losses, but Hutchison feels Potter would at least bring 'good football to watch' to Goodison Park.
Agree with this one, Blues?
Graham potter for me mate. At least there will be an identity and some good football to watch.
— Don Hutchison (@donhutch4) September 18, 2023
Win or lose you gotta go to a match and try and enjoy the game https://t.co/2ZcTTjd6VR
2023 Premier League table
Sky Sports have shared an image of how the Premier League table would look based on results earned by teams in 2023.
Everton sit 17th on the list, trailing Chelsea by only three points and with two games in hand...
Hopefully a few more wins can be added to the Blues' record between now and the end of the year.
The Premier League table of 2023 games only makes for some interesting reading... pic.twitter.com/PoGu1OBzkE
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 19, 2023
Blues beaten at Doncaster
Everton under-21s suffered a 2-0 defeat in their EFL Trophy group stage game with Doncaster Rovers yesterday evening.
The young Blues were unable to find a way past their League Two opponents and were twice punished by the home side, who Sean Dyche's men recetly knocked out of the Carabao Cup.
For Chris Beesley's match report, click here.
To read the thoughts of U21s boss Paul Tait, click here.
Everton face criticism for Alex Iwobi sale
Former Premier League striker Ian Wright has criticised Everton's decision to sell Alex Iwobi to Fulham.
He told Premier League Productions: “Everton have sold, for me, arguably, their best creative player in the last couple of seasons in Iwobi.
"And they sold him to Fulham.
"This is the level they have dropped to. I am not disrespecting Fulham. We are talking about Rooney to Manchester United, talking about big players, and even Arteta going to Arsenal.
"Players going to big clubs now. Everton are selling certain players, top players, to Fulham. That’s how far they have fallen off.
"It has to be pointed at his door, Moshiri’s door. Simply because he has come in with the money and he doesn’t realise that it’s another level of ownership now. He didn’t have the expertise for it."
Everton takeover: 777 Partners send £20m loan after Everton takeover
Potential new Everton owners 777 Partners have already provided the club with a loan of tens of millions.
On Monday evening The Athletic reported that 777 Partners had already loaned a sum of money to Everton to provide short-term working capital. The ECHO understands the loan is for both the club and stadium company side and arrived following the agreement between the two parties on Friday.
While the financial details of the loan agreement - which could not be done via an equity stake owing to Premier League rules preventing the company from investing directly into the Blues until its agreement with Moshiri receives all the necessary approval - have not been disclosed, the sum of the loan is believed to be around £20m.
Good morning
Hello and welcome to our dedicated Everton live-blog.
We will be bringing you all the latest news, transfer gossip and the up-to-date reports surrounding the takeover.
