Everton 'stumbling block' emerges with Kevin Malone takeover bid still in limbo

Kevin Malone is still weighing up a bid to buy Everton with Rights and Media Funding being a "stumbling block", according to Ben Jacobs.

The journalist posted on X (8 August) to report that the debt owed to Rights and Media Funding Limited was one of the factors that had prevented the American businessman's group from tabling a bid.

Jacobs' update followed a statement which stated that Malone's investor group were "seriously evaluating" the possibilities of investing in the Blues [Jacobs, 24 July], but that investment is yet to come.

Malone is a current baseball executive and was the former general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and has been mooted as one potential ownership candidate after Dan Friedkin's takeover fell through.

Everton fans still no closer to takeover clarity from Kevin Malone

Malone is far from the only option when it comes to prospective new owners at Goodison Park, but is arguably the biggest name to emerge since the Toffees' latest takeover talks, with Friedkin, collapsed.

Everton insider Bryan King exclusively told Goodison News on 7 July, that the takeover hit a “stumbling block” due to the money that was owed to Farhad Moshiri's previously preferred buyers 777 Partners.

Though Malone's Group have a long-standing interest in the club [Alan Myers, 22 July], they were behind the likes of the Friedkin Group, Andy Bell and George Downing during the last rounds of talks with Moshiri.

Friedkin's exclusivity agreement with Moshiri saw the group repay £158million in loans to the likes of MSP Sports Capital [Liverpool Echo, 24 June], but Rights and Media Funding are one of the parties still owed money.

With the new Premier League season fast approaching, Toffees fans seem to have less answers now than they did at the start of the summer, sparking fears of another campaign mired by financial strife.

In other Everton news, the Toffees have reportedly spent the vast majority of their transfer budget for this summer's window.

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