By George Overhill

24th May, 2023 | 7:40am

Everton investment update: Farhad Moshiri keeps most in dark, 'wholesale changes' near with MSP Sports Capital announcement

A deal could be announced for MSP Sports Capital investment in Everton soon after the season finishes but Farhad Moshiri is only keeping a “handful” of senior employees in the loop until the final game is played, i News reports.

The American group entered into an exclusivity agreement with the Toffees majority shareholder on Monday [BBC Sport, 22 May] but he doesn’t want to detract from the end of the league campaign with relegation hanging in the balance.

Significant change is expected at Goodison with a minority deal for 25% of the club on the cards, but with Sean Dyche taking his side into the final day with their noses ahead in the battle against the drop few at the club are being kept informed of developments at the top.

Mark Douglas writes: “i understands that Moshiri is staying tight-lipped on the prospect of Everton welcoming new investors, preferring the club to focus on Sunday’s make-or-break home fixture against Bournemouth despite talks with MSP Sports Capital reaching an advanced stage. They are understood to be ‘close’ to taking a stake in the club and sparking wholesale changes.

“That means [only] a handful of senior club employees are being kept in the loop about the club’s future ownership situation despite the potential prospect of a deal being announced shortly after the season finishes this week.”

Sensible

Much as a resolution is needed on the investment front after months of talks and an apparent head-to-head between MSP Sports Capital and rival American interest 777 Partners, there is little to be gained in announcing it in the days before the Cherries game.

Bill Kenwright took the opposite tack when he decided to publish an open letter to the All Together Now group on the eve of the Crystal Palace draw, which went down poorly with fans and pundits.

That game finished goalless and Everton had a man sent off, and while it is impossible to say if the disquiet over the chairman’s statement had an effect it would be safer all round to wait until after the Bournemouth clash.

An exclusivity agreement means there isn’t the chance of losing ground on any rival bids, so allowing the supporters and the players to focus entirely on what is set to be a rousing occasion at Goodison at the weekend makes sense.

There is finally some light at the end of the tunnel if the team can just get over the line and the funding for the stadium is officially secured soon after, even if that potentially only kicks off the next round of wrangling.

Dyche’s team go into the final day two points ahead of both Leeds and Leicester knowing a win guarantees safety, but anything less would leave the door open to relegation.