Everton takeover: Farhad Moshiri talks 'break down' as rivals wait on his decision
John Textor, the businessman whose comments set the tone of the battle now underway, is reported to be out of contention - though whether he was ever a likely candidate has always been in doubt
The man who fired the starting pistol on the battle for control of Everton is no longer in contention, according to reports.
The Telegraph states John Textor was among the parties vying for a deal with Farhad Moshiri but that talks broke down when the Blues’ majority shareholder refused ‘to sign an initial term sheet’ with the businessman.
The claims come with Moshiri weighing up rival bids for his controlling stake in a club he has been trying to engineer an exit from for more than two years.
READ MORE: Everton after the whistle: Farhad Moshiri opens new talks after takeover twist and transfer pressure
READ MORE: Everton takeover takes new twist as Middle East royal backs consortium of bidders
As previously reported by the ECHO, Textor appeared an unlikely candidate given that his Eagle Holdings group owns a 45% stake in Crystal Palace. While that stake is up for sale those proceedings are likely to take months - something Textor himself has admitted would likely take him out of the picture for the Blues.
The 58-year-old, who also has stakes in Lyon and Botafogo set the tone for the negotiations Moshiri is now engulfed in when, days before the anticipated collapse of the 777 Partners deal for Everton materialised, he told The Athletic that he viewed Everton as a golden opportunity for investors. He said: “Everton represents the best of English football: the struggles, the glory, the want. I love that it’s out of London. Everybody should want to buy Everton right now.”
Textor’s best opportunity to challenge for the club would likely be if Moshiri entered takeover talks that dragged on before failing to reach a successful resolution, providing adequate time for him to secure a departure from Selhurst Park. Across the past two years, Moshiri has been through three failed exclusivity negotiations.
While Textor may not be a viable candidate, Moshiri is considering formal offers from at least two groups. Local businessmen and wealthy Everton supporters Andy Bell and George Downing are fronting a £350m bid backed by finance from the merchant bank set up to manage the wealth of tech billionaire Michael Dell. Vatche Manoukian, a London-based businessman, is fronting a rival bid backed by figures that include a Gulf royal and US investors.
Other parties that are thought to be monitoring developments closely include MSP Sports Capital, who with Bell and Downing are one of the club’s biggest creditors, while A-CAP are tracking the situation as they attempt to protect the near-£200m lent to the club as part of the failed 777 Partners deal. Dan Friedkin, the US billionaire and president of Roma, is another figure said to be assessing the state of play.