Dan Friedkin set for UK-based Everton leadership as Roma role swapped from summer bid
Dan Friedkin is set to be present on Merseyside as he takes the lead on running Everton after the takeover, Sky Sports Italia report.
According to the outlet’s website on 23 September the purchase of the Toffees won’t mean The Friedkin Group leaving Roma, with son Ryan to be left in primary charge of running the Serie A side.
A takeover between The Friedkin Group and Farhad Moshiri was announced on 23 September, after “intense” weekend talks saw them jump ahead of John Textor [Sky Sports].
The deal only requires Premier League approval now, expected within weeks and without an issue [Ben Jacobs], as the due diligence process was completed during Friedkin’s previous exclusivity period in the summer [Giulia Bould].
At that time TFG’s plan was for Ryan Friedkin to run Everton while Dan remained in place in Italy [Gazzetta dello Sport, 6 July] but the roles appear to have been reversed.
Farhad Moshiri agrees Everton sale to The Friedkin Group
It may not be popular in Rome but it will likely be what Evertonians want to hear that Friedkin senior is to take the lead in England.
It remains to be seen what is behind switching the planned roles between Dan and Ryan from the summer bid, but might suggest the Toffees could take precedence in the multi-club group.
Roma are arguably going through more chaos than Everton at present with the recent sacking of Daniele De Rossi sparking fan fury and the resignation of CEO Lina Souloukou [The Athletic, 22 September].
But the stakes are still probably higher at Goodison where Sean Dyche is under increasing pressure after an “horrific” start to the season [Jamie Carragher, 14 September].
Struggles on and off the pitch have become par for the course at Everton in recent years so the optimism from the Friedkin takeover news makes it possible to forget the team is second-bottom in the Premier League with one point from 15.
However, the draw at Leicester at the weekend was the first league game where defeat was avoided, star man Jarrad Branthwaite is on the brink of a return after a dramatic outing for the Under-21s [Joe Thomas, 22 September], and now it appears the long-term future of the club is set to be secured.
So just maybe everything is belatedly starting to come together at Goodison Park.
In other Everton news, a former Liverpool player issued a “sincere” instant reaction to the takeover news at a “special” club.
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