Textor granted exclusivity in Everton takeover bid

Everton host Brighton in their Premier League opener on Saturday

Everton owner Farhad Moshiri has granted a period of exclusivity to Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor as the American businessman aims to purchase a majority stake in the Premier League club.

BBC Sport understands discussions have taken place around the feasibility of an agreement, but a deal is not close at this stage.

Textor is the latest party in the frame to take over the Toffees after talks broke down with both 777 Partners and the Friedkin Group this summer.

However, any deal is dependent on Textor selling his 45% stake in Crystal Palace, as Premier League rules prohibit individuals from owning more than one team.

Everton declined to comment when contacted by BBC Sport.

Speaking earlier on Thursday when previewing his side's Premier League opener against Brighton, Everton manager Sean Dyche said: "We can't affect the business model of the club in terms of someone buying it.

"Just fingers crossed it [a resolution] gets found. It's been here since I got here. It goes higher volume and lower volume depending on results and the bigger picture of the club.

"I always believe in controlling the controllables and I can't decide when the club gets sold and who buys it. We've just got to wait for that period when it happens and if it doesn't, just keep working hard."

Asked if he had spoken to Moshiri, Dyche said: "Nothing of any depth. Just messages and stuff like that.

"I will probably see or speak to him soon, but there has been nothing too much to report from him to me or me to him."

Through his company Eagle Football Holdings, the 58-year-old Textor already has a number of stakes in other clubs, including Lyon in France, Brazilian side Botafogo and Belgian club Molenbeek.

In a revealing BBC Sport interview in February, Textor called protests against his ownership by some Palace fans "nonsense" and "misguided", but said he was "in it for the long game".

"No, I don't want to run [Palace] one day," he said at the time. "I don't even like running the clubs I have.

"Is there a possibility that if we can't achieve greater collaboration that we would consider selling our interest in Palace? It's possible."

In May, Textor confirmed he was looking to sell his stake in Palace and held an interest in purchasing Everton, suggesting his group may be "uniquely positioned to solve a lot of problems for people" at the Blues.

He told the Athletic in May: "Everton represents the best of English football: the struggles, the glory, the want. I love that it's out of London. Everybody should want to buy Everton right now.

"How great would it be to take one of these great English clubs back to sort of glory?"

Palace chairman and co-owner Steve Parish is in charge of running the club and told BBC Sport this week that the situation between himself and Textor is amicable.

"John has a multi-club set-up and because he has a minority position in Crystal Palace it makes it more difficult for him to do the things that he wants to do," Parish said.

"We do collaborate with his clubs where we can. He wants to go and do something else, we're helping him do that. We will work to wish John well and do our best to get him in the position we want him to be in."

Miami-based 777 Partners had agreed to buy Moshiri's 94% stake in September 2023 but missed a deadline of 31 May to complete their purchase, while the Friedkin Group pulled out of talks four weeks after being granted a period of exclusivity and loaning the club £200m during their attempt to take over.