Kieran Maguire
Football finance expert on BBC Radio 5 Live

The Friedkin Group was doing its due diligence into the finances of Everton and they had reservations about some of the outstanding loans.

They were hoping that the lenders would take a reduction in what was owed from them, one of the owners 777 have a complicated back story.

I think the Friedkin Group took the view that it was getting too complex and too risky from their point of view.

They were going to inherit huge amounts of debt and if they couldn’t guarantee that some of the existing lenders couldn’t cut back on what was owed to them. They felt it wasn’t a worthwhile deal to go ahead with.

Everton

The Friedkin Group, which also owns Serie A club Roma, had agreed a deal in principle to take over Everton in June.

Chairman Dan Friedkin and his group were granted exclusivity in talks after a deal with Miami-based firm 777 partners broke down.

"The parties agree it is in both their interests for Everton to explore alternative options," said the Friedkin Group and Everton's current owner Blue Heaven Holdings in a joint statement.

The Friedkin Group, which injected £200m into the club and paid off a £158m loan to MSP Sports Capital and two local businessmen, will "remain a lender to the club", the statement added.

Farhad Moshiri, who bought a 49.9% share in Everton in 2016, is now its majority owner through Blue Heaven Holdings with a 94% stake.

Image source, Getty Images

Andy from Selby

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter at Bramall Lane

The Friedkin Group seemed like being the latest saviours of the Toffees but talks have fallen apart and they informed owner Farhad Moshiri of their desire to pull the plug on the deal on Thursday.

BBC Sport understands the major stumbling block has been the situation with another former prospective buyer in 777 Partners/A-Cap.

They lent the club £200m during their attempted takeover and the issue was not paying that off but the serious legal action they are mired in in the US.

Friedkin Group did not know how long this would last for and there would be too much risk involved in continuing, so, instead of waiting a number of months for those issues to be resolved, they have decided to walk away.

Now The Friedkin Group have become the latest creditor to the club after lending them £200m during their short period in trying to purchase Everton.

For Moshiri, it's back to square one as be seeks to find another buyer.

Everton fans, we want to hear your reaction to the news that talks with The Friedkin Group over the sale of a majority stake in the club have been called off.

You can get in touch with us via X, WhatsApp or text using the contact details above.

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Everton

Everton have released a joint-statement, external from Blue Heaven Holdings and the Friedkin Group.

"Following a period of exclusivity, discussions between Blue Heaven Holdings and the Friedkin Group over a potential sale of a majority stake in Everton have ended and the Friedkin Group will not be progressing with a purchase of the club.

"Both Blue Heaven Holdings and The Friedkin Group entered discussions in good faith to explore whether a sale could be agreed. Those discussions have concluded. The parties agree it is in both their interests for Everton to explore alternative options.

"The Friedkin Group will remain a lender to the club and is proud to have played a key role in enabling the new stadium to be built, which will help ensure a bright future for both Everton and the City of Liverpool.

"Blue Heaven Holdings maintains a positive relationship with the Friedkin Group and would like to thank them for the time and effort they have put into this process.

"When there is further news to share, it will be provided via the club’s official communication channels."

Image source, Getty Images

Everton

Everton have announced, external that discussions with The Friedkin Group over a potential sale of a majority stake in the club have ended and their prospective purchase will not be progressing.

More to follow.

Aston Villa

Last season, Aston Villa played three of their home matches at Villa Park.

Their opening day 2-1 defeat to Manchester United was watched by 12,533.

A month later, they hosted Everton at home inside Villa Park, also a 2-1 defeat. A smaller crowd of 4,203 watched that match.

Towards the end of last season, Villa faced Arsenal at Villa Park. Arsenal were 3-1 winners in front of a crowd of 10,076.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport

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Aston Villa Women will play all 11 home WSL fixtures at Villa Park - an increase to the five games played there last campaign.

The remaining home fixtures, including Women’s FA Cup and Women’s League Cup ties, will be played at Poundland Bescot Stadium.

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Fulham want to bring in Brazil midfielder Andre, 23, from Fluminense. (Standard), external

The Cottagers are reportedly looking for a replacement for Portugal international Joao Palhinha after the 29-year-old moved to Bayern Munich.

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The Mirror, external reports that Arsenal look set to end their interest in England defender Marc Guehi with Crystal Palace demanding more than £70m for the 24-year-old England international.

However, the north London club are reportedly looking at Bologna's central defender Riccardo Calafiori.

The 22-year-old featured in three games for Italy at Euro 2024 and has been based at Bologna less than a year since joining from Basel.

Former Premier League midfielder N'Golo Kante could be heading back to London for a reported £20m deal. If West Ham secure the Frenchman, will they have the deal of the summer?

Kante moved to Saudi based club Al-Ilttihad from Chelsea just over a year ago.

The 33-year-old was part of the 2015-16 Foxes squad who remarkably won the Premier League title. Kante then moved to Chelsea where he spent seven years and again, he added to his personal trophy cabinet.

At the west London club the ball-winning midfielder added a Champions League, Europa League and another Premier League trophy to his cabinet.

Oh, and not to forget a World Cup victory in 2018.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

With N'Golo Kante being linked with a move to West Ham - how did he fare at the 2024 Euros?

In the opening games for France at Euro 2024 after a two-year absence from the international stage - he set the tone straight from the off.

Two player of the match performances against, Austria and Netherlands saw Kante tick all the boxes again.

Although France were unable to secure a third European Championship Kante's opening performances showed glimpses of his former best.

And for those West Ham fans who may feel Kante could possibly be past his best - here's a comparison of his stats from the opening games at Euro 2020 and 2024.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham are interested in signing France midfielder N'Golo Kante.

The 33-year-old starred for France at Euro 2024 after a year in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ittihad after leaving Chelsea.

A potential return to the Premier League could be scuppered by Ittihad's desire to hold onto the World Cup winner.

Kante still has years left on his current contract.

Image source, Getty Images

Celtic have signed Denmark captain Kasper Schmeichel on a one-year deal after the goalkeeper led his country to the last 16 of Euro 2024.

Schmeichel, 37, was a free agent after leaving Belgian club Anderlecht at the end of last season and replaces former Manchester City club-mate Joe Hart, who has retired.

The Dane has amassed 105 international caps and will join his new team-mates in the United States, where the Scottish champions are on tour.

"Celtic is one of the world’s proper football clubs, a massive name and a place of real passion and success," he told the club website. Celtic is what football is all about."

Read the full story here.

Aston Villa

Aston Villa are also understood to be closing in on signing of £50m Everton midfielder Amadou Onana.

Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior have joined from Juventus, Ross Barkley made a £5m move from Luton and winger Lewis Dobbin also joined from Everton for £9m last month.

Douglas Luiz was sold to Juve for £42m in June which eased fears about breaching profit and sustainability rules.

Image source, Getty Images

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Jaden Philogene had been keen to move to Ipswich before Aston Villa's late intervention and he flew back from Hull's training camp in Turkey last Friday before having a medical on Monday.

He had initially been left at home by the Tigers at the start of last week but eventually flew out to briefly join his team-mates.

Villa are able to offer Champions League football after finishing fourth in the Premier League last season.

Philogene made six appearances, but just one start, for Villa after coming through the club's academy and had loans spells at Stoke and Cardiff.

Everton also wanted the wideman while Crystal Palace were interested but decided a deal was too expensive.

He scored 12 goals in 32 games for Hull last season as they finished seventh in the Championship.

The signing of Philogene and the expected transfer of Onana will take Villa's spending this summer to around £140m.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa have re-signed England Under-21 winger Jaden Philogene from Hull - less than 12 months after selling him to the Tigers.

The 22-year-old has penned a five-year contract after Villa more than matched Ipswich's £18m offer.

Yet Hull will not get all of the cash due to the 30% sell on inserted in the deal which took him to the Tigers, meaning they will bank around £13.5m.

Villa had matching rights after Philogene's move to the Tigers last September and triggered the clause last week just as the Tractor Boys looked like wrapping up the transfer.

Aston Villa

Aston Villa have confirmed the signing of Jaden Philogene from Hull City.

City Football Group, which owns Manchester City, has a majority share in 10 clubs, as well as minority shares in two others.

Clubs owned by City Football Club:

• Manchester City (England)
• Girona (Spain)
• Palermo (Italy)
• Troyes (France)
• Lommel (Belgium)
• New York City FC (United States of America)
• Mumbai City (India)
• Melbourne City (Australia)
• Montevideo City Torque (Uruguay)
• Bahia (Brazil)
• Yokohama F.Marinos (Japan) - minority stake
• Shenzhen Peng City (China) - minority stake

On top of the clubs it owns, City Football Group also has partnerships with Club Bolivar (Bolivia) and Vannes (France).