Andy Bell and George Downing are among the interested parties in buying Everton, but Farhad Moshiri is not ready to make a decision on his sale just yet.
Moshiri sold 94% of his shares to 777 Partners in September, but the Miami-based investment firm couldn’t complete the deal. As a result, other investors have come into the picture.
One of them is Bell and Downing who are frontrunners in the race at the moment. According to journalist Tom Morgan, the two multi-millionnaire lifelong Toffees fans lead a chasing pack of takeover contenders.
Writing for The Telegraph on 10 June, Morgan claims that Bell and Downing have told Moshiri that they have the immediate funding, but the British-Iranian businessman has other offers on the table.
A consortium of Middle East and US investors led by London-based Armenian Vatche Manoukian has submitted an offer of £400 million, described as an equity that will not deleverage the heavily indebted club.
What options does Moshiri have in Everton takeover process
According to BBC, a member of the Saudi royal family has joined a consortium of international investors to buy Everton.
Roma owner Dan Friedkin has also registered interest in taking control of Everton. John Textor, who is currently trying to sell his stake in Crystal Palace, is also another candidate but there are suggestions that he is out of the race.
Kenneth King of investment firm A Cap is also one of the contenders. However, Bell and Downing, backed by the Dell family, have a genuine interest in taking control of Everton and have money ready with them.
The same can be said about Manoukian as well. The initial agreement can be announced before the start of next season but the takeover process is unlikely to be completed before October.
Bell and Downing are fans’ favourite and they have told Moshiri that they are the safest pair of hands for the club, and have the experience to maintain development of the stadium project at Bramley-Moore Dock.
