Everton takeover: 777 silent as Josh Wander spotted in talks with Birmingham City owner
Prospective new Everton owners 777 Partners declined to answer questions after Josh Wander was spotted in talks with the Birmingham City owner, according to Josimar.
The Norwegian outlet reported via their website on 5 March that they had asked the American company about their co-founder’s discussions with Tom Wagner, who took over at St. Andrew’s in August, but they “did not wish to make any further comments”.
Wander and Wagner were seen in conversation at the Financial Times’ Business of Football Summit 2024 in London, which was held on 28 and 29 February.
According to Josimar: “Wagner is the co-founder of Knighthead Capital Management and the co-Chaiman of Knighthead Annuity & Life Assurance Company, an entity registered in the Cayman Islands, whose company also has a relationship with SILAC.”
They report that SILAC, a Utah-based insurance company, is said to be one of the financial outfits looking to “disengage” with 777 and their insurance arm, following multiple downgrades to its credit rating in recent months, amid significant reported concerns over their financial situation.
777 Partners finances in question amid Everton takeover wait
The complicated nature of 777 Partners’ business set-up has been tipped as part of the reason why it has taken the Premier League so long to assess their suitability to take over.
Investigations from the likes of Josimar indicate that it is all the more complex when there is reportedly huge amounts of debt built up across their business interests, to the tune of around £3billion as recently as the summer.
So if they are desperately attempting to keep plates spinning amid the anxious wait for a verdict on whether they can come in at Goodison Park, it is no surprise that Wander would need to be needing to hold talks with all sorts of financial figures.
And as the American influx in English football ownership increases that likely means he comes across various other club owners.
Whether he will ultimately join their ranks remains the $1million, or at this stage more like £190m, question as the time since the September agreement was struck with Farhad Moshiri nears six months.
If 777 Partners are going to provide Everton a route out of the purgatory they have found themselves in, and in the circumstances it appears if the club are going to do the same in return, both surely need an answer soon.
In other Everton news, the Toffees are now “likely” to agree a major £80million transfer.
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