Richard Masters speaks out on Everton takeover today in new ‘soon’ admission
Premier League CEO Richard Masters has spoken out on the Everton takeover situation, claiming Farhad Moshiri holds the cards rather than the league.
Masters, speaking on talkSPORT on Wednesday morning [14 August, 10:41], also denied any rocky relationship between the Toffees and the league – despite a hostile reception from sections of supporters at Goodison Park regarding points deductions and PSR concerns.
The Premier League chief reinforced that it is entirely down to Moshiri to decide the next buyer of the club, and that the league only step in once this call has been established.
“Contrary to the perception, we have a strong relationship with the club and are in constant contact with them. We understand their financial position. Their current owner, Farhad Moshiri, wants to sell the club and is in active discussions with people,” Masters explained live on air.
“From the Premier League’s perspective, it’s not up to us to decide who the next owner of [Everton] is – it’s up to Moshiri to decide. Our job is to operate the rules and the ownership test. When a decision is made, that is when we become involved in it.
“Of course we’d love all our clubs to be on a sound financial footing, have a clear ownership and understand where they’re heading. It’s in the best interests of everyone that Farhad Moshiri completes that sale process as soon as possible.”
Everton said to be on good terms with Premier League
Whilst it is pretty common knowledge merely retold by what Masters has said, it may come as good news for Everton fans – despite understandably having their guard up with the Premier League.
The latest on the drearily protracted takeover saga is that Dan Friedkin and his group are a name back on the scene, although for an interest in a minority share from Moshiri rather than a full purchase agreement [Il Messaggero, 12 August].
This was later denied by Alan Myers [12 August], who acknowledged that Friedkin’s consortium “in effect have a stake in the club already” and only wanted a full takeover prior to last month’s collapse in talks.
The Liverpool Echo provided the “no-update update” on Tuesday as supporters grow even more anxious with no serious bid currently on the table towards Moshiri [13 August], who owns 94.1% of the Toffees.
On the pitch, there is reason to be excited if Sean Dyche’s side can pick up where they left off last season – an organised unit in the colours of a club who have so far retained the majority of their valuable assets, such as Jarrad Branthwaite and Jordan Pickford, despite losing Amadou Onana.
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