Kieran Maguire shares ‘blockage’ verdict in John Textor Everton takeover plan
John Textor’s reported interest in Everton can only come to fruition if he sells his 45 per cent stake in fellow Premier League club Crystal Palace, Kieran Maguire has explained.
Speaking on The Price of Football podcast, Maguire said that Textor cannot even attempt to purchase more than a 10 per cent share in the Toffees due to Premier League rules on multi-club ownership.
Current Blues owner Farhad Moshiri is likely to be looking for new investors after 31 May, and Textor has publicly announced he would be interested in a takeover at Goodison Park.
Maguire said: “You cannot have more than 10% ownership of two clubs in the Premier League.
“There’s a Steve Parish-shaped blockage in (Textor’s) ambitions, and therefore he’s looking at an alternative route.
“Does he have the money? Yes, but he needs to sell before he can buy in order to satisfy Premier League rules anyway.”
Will John Textor become Everton’s new owner?
Everton face a summer of uncertainty as current owner Farhad Moshiri continues his efforts to sell the club as soon as possible, although the last eight months worth of stalemates with 777 Partners suggests there will not be the swift resolution fans crave.
However, the talks with 777 seem to finally be coming to an end, with reports that the current deadline of 31 May is the US investment group’s final chance to satisfy the Premier League’s ownership rules.
While that looks unlikely, Textor has emerged as a potential alternative buyer of Everton and, crucially, he’s an existing Premier League co-owner who has already met those standards when he purchased his stake in Crystal Palace.
Therein lies the biggest problem for Textor’s hopeful takeover of the Toffees though, and unless he is able to sell the vast majority of his 45 per cent shareholding at Goodison Park, Premier League rules will prevent him from having any involvement whatsoever on Merseyside.
In other Everton news, the name of the star who is expected to leave this summer has emerged as a new arrival is eyed.
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