Dan Friedkin accused of 'face-saving PR' after embarrassing Everton situation

Dan Friedkin hasn't won any more fans over after putting Everton up for sale.

The American businessman and his group announced on Friday that they are seeking a full sale of the Toffees.

The Friedkin Group only bought the Blues in 2024, but they have not been a visible presence in L3 since arriving, leading some to believe they are only here for short-term profit.

Evertonians vocalised their frustrations at TFG and other club officials after David Moyes was left with just one striker following the summer window, which only raised further questions about the owners.

While the Houston-based company and their chief executives will not be welcomed back to Hill Dickinson with a warm reception any time soon after the latest news, their reputation could have been made much worse.

Especially if they sold Everton hotshot Harrison Armstrong.

Dan Friedkin slammed after Harrison Armstrong's near Everton exit

Nottingham Forest made a late push to sign Armstrong on 28 August ahead of the deadline, as a £40million bid was reportedly accepted by TFG.

It's said that Forest had their offer approved without Moyes knowing, and that the player himself had no intention of leaving.

Everton fans were furious about the transfer news, and even threatened that they would riot if the midfielder was sold. The deal was then stopped from happening on 30 August.

The Telegraph's Dominic King has questioned whether the potential sale of the 19-year-old was purely to help TFG cover their own pockets for the near £40m that may be owed to Burnley for FFP breaches in 2022.

He wrote: "There were some reports that Dan Friedkin had intervened to stop the sale, but it was nothing other than face-saving PR.

"TFG wanted to sell the 19-year-old: if it did not, the offer would have been rejected, instantly, 48 hours earlier. The situation was an embarrassment."

Armstrong has so far been an important player for Moyes since the summer window slammed shut, with summer signing Hayden Hackney struggling to get into the starting eleven over the teenager.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was pretty vocal on the backlash around Everton's summer window.

His comments now make for interesting reading after the latest news around TFG.

Why Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall may look even better after TFG news

Everton fans were signing about potentially rioting if Armstrong was sold during the 1-1 draw to Bournemouth before the deadline.

It was the day after the game at the Vitality Stadium that the plug was pulled on the deal.

Reflecting on the chants, Dewsbury-Hall said, as quoted by The Guardian: "They definitely made their feelings known, and obviously it worked. Big credit to them for that; they were amazing that day.

"And I know for a fact it made Harrison feel very good and it helped him. He is a very confident lad and well respected in the dressing room for such a young age."

So the players clearly know that TFG may have been trying to push the deal through for their own benefit.

There could be even more that comes out the woodwork in the following months, as the process of a sale could drag on for a while.