Everton have new 777 Partners concerns as Vasco de Gama hit with transfer ban
Everton fans have been feeling overwhelmingly positive in the last few weeks, with back-to-back wins and a takeover agreed upon, everything seems to be going well at Goodison Park.
Farhad Moshiri has agreed to sell his 94 per cent stake in the Toffees to American Investment company 777 Partners with the takeover agreed pending approval [Sky Sports, 15 September] but there could already be some stumbling blocks.
777 have stakes in multiple other football clubs around the world including Standard Liege, Genoa, Hertha Berlin, Melbourne Victory and in Brazil, Vasco de Gama. However, currently, things aren’t going as hoped in South America.
According to a report from Brazilian broadcaster Globo (28 September), Vasco have been put under a transfer ban by FIFA because of late payments to clubs, with Lille, Nacional of Uruguay and Argentine side Atletico Tucuman all launching legal action as they are owed transfer fees.
The Brazilian club reportedly owe Nacional £1.6million and Tucuman around £1.23million and FIFA have imposed the transfer ban after Vasco missed the deadline to complete their payments. The transfer window is currently closed in Brazil but it means the 777 side is unable to register any new players until it has been lifted.
While not directly relating to Everton yet, there have been concerns over where 777 have sourced the money to complete their takeover of the Toffees, with several other Premier League owners making their fears heard during a Premier League summit [Daily Mail, 20 September].
The owners believe that the takeover could damage the reputation of the Premier League given that the American firm is currently involved in several legal disputes in America. It is unknown how much of an effect that will have on the deal after Newcastle’s takeover by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment fund was approved.
It will not help the Toffees case, however, should one of the other teams under 777 Partners’ umbrella be under a transfer ban when the Premier League have to decide whether or not they are fit and proper owners. It is hard to allow a company that has failed to correctly fund one side to acquire another at the same time.
For Blues fans, it can’t be particularly encouraging to see a team run by your potential new owners in such dire straights, especially given the general unhappiness with 777 across the fanbases of the other teams they currently own.
Everton need a takeover as they are circling the relegation plughole under Moshir’s ownership, but you have to wonder, will the potential new owners be that much better an option?
In other Everton news, Dyche has revealed that Andre Gomes is frustrated behind the scenes at Goodison Park