Credit: Imago

Scott Mason

Wed 27 May 2026 7:10, UK

The Friedkin Group are still relatively new owners at Everton, and impressions among supporters will be key over the next few years.

The American business group, run by the Friedkin family, with Dan Friedkin as the patriarch, has been the majority owner at Everton since their takeover was complete in December 2024.

Summer transfer business after the end of 2024-2025 was mixed. The ownership had invested quite a decent chunk of money into improving the squad.

However, big-money moves for players such as Tyler Dibling have failed to work out so far, with perhaps his £40million price tag also including the potential of the star he could become.

Other transfers showed more ambition, particularly the arrival of Jack Grealish on loan and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. However, ahead of Everton’s summer, the ownership risks damaging their reputation amid interest for Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

How Aaron Wan-Bissaka transfer could hurt the Everton ownerships reputation

Everton have been linked with a £10m move for Wan-Bissaka as the summer window begins to draw closer.

Wan-Bissaka is a decent-level Premier League footballer; however, that is the issue. The DR Congo international is simply nothing more than that.

The defender is suited to a mid-table side in the English top-flight rather than an ambitious transfer for a team looking to push on for European football, as Everton should.

A transfer for Wan-Bissaka simply stinks as the kind of move that Everton fans became far too accustomed to under the ownership of Farhad Moshiri.

The West Ham ace would fit in at Everton, but he would also not take them to that next level that the Toffees so desperately want to become. On the surface, it feels like a sideways step.

Everton already have a defensive right-back option in Jake O’Brien, and Wan-Bissaka would add nothing more to the L3 outfit’s ranks.

If the 28-year-old was purchased, it would feel like the Friedkins are signalling they are happy for Everton to stay among the Premier League’s status quo of mid-table outfits.

Fans may feel alienated by the direction the club is heading with deals like this lined up.

Who else could Everton sign at right-back?

A new right-back is certainly on Everton’s agenda this summer with Seamus Coleman departing and Nathan Patterson likely to leave.

The Blues have been linked with various names, such as Emil Holm and Lutsharel Geertruida. On paper, those two already seem more ambitious.

Genoa star Brooke Norton-Cuffy was also targeted in the winter window earlier this season, and perhaps the Toffees could reignite their interest there.

One thing is for sure, the Merseyside club must be ambitious in their market dealings, rather than makingg sideways steps like the previous ownership.

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