Everton face relegation risk this season as new debt talks emerge amid ongoing takeover delay

Everton have held talks with restructuring advisers thanks to the takeover by 777 Partners not being completed and the club carrying over $500million [£398m] in debts, according to Bloomberg.

The Canadian outlet reported via their website on 30 April that the there is no certainty that a restructuring adviser, said to be "often hired by struggling businesses to help deal with burdensome debt loads and work toward a turnaround", will be appointed.

And according to Bloomberg Everton run the risk of going into administration if it fails to deal with the "heavy" debt burden and keep funding day-to-day activities.

With an automatic nine-point deduction imposed if a club goes into administration it is reported that: "Although Everton has managed a strong run of results in recent weeks, it could risk being relegated if it falls into administration during the current Premier League season."

Everton reportedly declined to comment.

777 saga leaves Everton not yet safe in Premier League?

It emerged on Monday 29 April that Everton were doing contingency planning for the takeover potentially collapsing as it was said that 777 had delivered their latest £15m in loans to the club, but Josimar reported a day later that the money had in fact not arrived by close of play on Monday.

With the Toffees reportedly forced to pay their own payroll and it unclear whether there was enough to then pay bills due to new stadium builders Laing O'Rourke, it seems like the funding issues that have dogged the prospective new owners throughout the months of waiting for them to get the takeover done have suddenly dumped a major problem on the club.

Sean Dyche's and the players have pulled three vital wins out of the bag to seemingly secure Premier League survival for another year despite a pair of points deductions.

But with the work on the pitch endlessly undercut by the failings off it the door would appear to remain open to a third, potentially-ruinous, points deduction this season sending the Toffees back into danger.

Although a genuine risk of administration if funding from 777 fell through is thought to be unlikely it hasn't been entirely ruled out, with Farhad Moshiri either unwilling to unable to fund the club any longer.

The final games of the season were supposed to be a chance for Evertonians to enjoy watching their side with the jeopardy finally stripped away, and yet still the takeover saga is putting doubts back on the table when a solution is desperately needed.

Dyche has his side 11 points clear of the drop zone and on a run of four wins in five so could still navigate a way to safety even after administration, but the latest threat is the last thing he will want to hear.

In other Everton news, the Toffees have already made an offer to sign an international player for free this summer.

For more Everton news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.