Everton

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

There are huge moments of tension before some big decisions are made. The exit polls after elections, white smoke as the announcement of a new pope is decreed, but for many Everton fans the news of a takeover - finally - is maybe even more important.

The hope is that, at last, years of frugality and fear may be behind them, though there is a but.

The Toffees have been here before and until every i is dotted and t crossed there will be a wariness about celebrating.

The new ownership has to be approved - that’s not a given yet. Will they mirror what the fans want if and when they do come in? There is always the fear of jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire. Many, many football fans have found themselves in this situation.

I am desperately hoping for the best with the prospective new owners, who could come in just as Everton settle into their all-singing, all-dancing, fabulous, money-generating new stadium.

However, until there is certainty, clarity and some detail on the deal and the debt going forward, seasoned Evertonians will understandably proceed with care and rightly so.

Having said all that, it could be great news and at least it provides some hope of returning glory!

Sign up to read more from Pat Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter here

Prospective Everton owner Dan Friedkin will make deciding the future of manager Sean Dyche one of his first acts at Goodison Park, with talks over a new deal currently on hold. (Mirror), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Mike Richards
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

There is never a dull day at Everton Football Club.

No sooner were we absorbing Saturday's draw at Leicester City and seeing the return of Jarrad Branthwaite for the Under-21s, were we treated to a Monday that was far from blue and quite simply unbelievable.

The saga of selling the football club has been well documented.

Two years of false dawns, questionable suitors and scaremongering about bankruptcy have been the theme as Farhad Moshiri has looked to exit the club, seemingly unconcerned by the mess that may be left behind.

This all made yesterday’s events even more remarkable.

A little over 10 days ago, John Textor publicly declared he saw owning Everton as being comparable to having the keys to The White House.

Fast forward to yesterday and The Friedkin Group agree a deal with Moshiri, leaving Textor out in the cold and Evertonians in raptures.

The speed of the deal appeared to be as quick as the dazzling feet of Iliman Ndiaye.

Murmurings of the Roma owners being back on the scene surfaced last week, but in all honesty, they never went away.

Having already loaned the club £200m towards the stadium, many people felt the abrupt end to the proposed deal to buy the club over the summer was all part of the bartering process.

A sense of relief greeted yesterday’s update. The Friedkin Group are the preferred suitors for many Evertonians and the much craved stability at the club is within touching distance.

The information we’ve seen suggests the club could well move into Bramley Moore almost debt free, a far cry from the financial concerns that have been the back story of the club for what feels like an eternity.

Obviously, there is still some work to be done but at last, the light at the end of the tunnel is almost blinding.

Find more from Mike Richards at Unholy Trinity, external

BBC Radio Merseyside's Giulia Bould hopes the deal for The Friedkin Group to buy Farhad Moshiri's majority stake of Everton means "much more financial stability".

It was announced on Monday an agreement had been reached for the group to spend in excess of £400m to buy Moshiri's stake.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Bould was asked by former Everton winger Andros Townsend what it would mean to the club and whether it would allow for more money to be spent "if they can get around their PSR nonsense".

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

We asked for your views on The Friedkin Group's imminent takeover of Everton.

Here are some of your comments:

Kenny: I am absolutely delighted The Friedkin Group have come back in to make a successful bid for Everton and Moshiri can pack his bags and get out of the club we love. Let’s hope the Premier League don’t throw a spanner in the works.

Canadian Toffee: I'll believe it when I see Friedkin holding the shirt. If there's one thing I've learnt from this takeover epic is that there's always another plot twist.

Graham: Anyone but Moshiri has got to be a good thing right? Not sure this is truly the best option however but I guess time will tell. Personally I would prefer the Bell/Downing option of ownership. But we do need to move on and be stable and organised.

Simon: Moshiri leaving Everton can't come soon enough - he has been an absolute disaster for our club. I'm not suggesting his intentions weren't good but he simply didn't leave decisions to the right people. As for the new owners we'll just have to wait and see. Money doesn't mean everything, as Moshiri proved! As an Everton fan you just live in hope.

Peter: I hope that Friedkin will be true to their word and provide stability and sensible investment. The loyal fans deserve success and a team to be proud of. The similarities between Roma and Everton historically are clear. Both have lived in the shadows of other clubs in recent years but hopefully they can take their rightful places amongst the elite.

Dave: The prospect of a new owner is scary in modern football as we've seen first hand just how badly the wrong owner can negatively impact a club. The prospect of a new owner with a track record of managing a top European side responsibly and having some success, that's probably the best case scenario for me to be honest. I'd be chuffed with Friedkin.

Everton prospective owner Dan Friedkin has identified Gareth Southgate, 54, as a potential candidate to replace his fellow Englishman Sean Dyche, 53, as manager at Goodison Park. (GiveMeSport), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Former Everton defender Alan Stubbs has been speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside following the news that The Friedkin have agreed to buy the majority shareholding in the Toffees: "It is great news for the football club. They are the best of the two that were involved and Dan Friedkin is the one in terms of his business acumen. He brings a wealth of experience from the football side of it.

"I'm trying to not get too excited about it but it is really positive news for the football club.

"This sale has been going on for far too long. We look like we are potentially going to get the right people in place but we have been rudderless, going nowhere off the pitch, for far too long. We have had an owner who has washed his hands of and had nothing to do with the club and given no updates.

"Now we have a situation where we are looking like we are a) getting the best new owner we can get from everyone involved and b) the end of Moshiri era.

"The only positive from Moshiri now is that he built us a fantastic looking stadium that we are ready to move into.

"The problem with our last owner was that he wanted to do bit of everything - buying players, selling players - but he had no experience of that. He wanted to come in and buy his way to being successful.

"Some might be lucky and be able to to that, Roman Abramovich at Chelsea for example, but Moshiri has spent billions and got it drastically wrong.

"We want someone now who has a vison, a football business background and gives us an insight into how they see taking Everton forwards."

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds

With Roma owners The Friedkin Group looking set to complete their takeover of Everton, subject to regulatory and financial checks, Italian football Journalist Daniele Verri has been speaking to BBC Sport about what fans can expect from the potential new ownership.

Everton fans are looking forward to "stability" after seeing the club "run like a corner shop", says former chair of the Fans' Forum Nick Mernock.

It was confirmed on Monday that The Friedkin Group has reached an agreement to buy Farhad Moshiri's majority 94% stake in the Blues.

If the deal meets all regulatory approval from the Premier League, the Football Association and the Financial Conduct Authority, it could bring an end to a long-standing and turbulent takeover.

"On the face of it, it looks exactly like what a lot of Evertonians wanted," Mernock told BBC Sport.

"But a lot of us are also very battle hardened and cynical of these things.

"The announcement comes with caveats of a number of checks - financial checks, Premier League checks and clearances, so it is a mixed reaction of excitement at the potential to move forward but also a little air of 'I will believe it when I actually see it'."

The Friedkin Group is already a lender to the club after injecting £200m, though this could be converted to equity as part of the deal.

The agreement between the group and Moshiri's Blue Heaven Holdings has been signed and finances are in place for completion.

"There is always concern that a new person is going to come in and put their stamp on it. It is their club, their money, so inevitably they will," Mernock added.

"But there are hopes they will at least get a feel for the dynamic of the fan base, what the expectation is rather than make an early changes.

"With the greatest respect to the people who have had [the club] previously, we have sort of been run like a corner shop. We haven't really had that direction, that strategy, that big perspective mentality that has taken Everton forward.

"Having that strategic stability and direction has to be the thing most Everton fans are looking forward to."

Image source, Getty Images

It looks like the Farhad Moshiri era is finally coming to an end at Everton.

The Friedkin Group, who also own Italian outfit AS Roma, have agreed to buy the majority shares in the Merseyside club.

How are you feeling about the news, Toffees fans? Could this be the start of something big at Everton?

Let us know your thoughts on the imminent takeover here, external

Giulia Bould
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

The news that an agreement has been reached between Everton's majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri and The Friedkin Group will be met with a mix of hope and fear for supporters.

This takeover at Goodison Park has gone on so long that most fans worry about the next negative headlines.

The American group will need to pass the Premier League's owners' and directors' test and get approval from the Financial Conduct Authority, but finance experts tell me this is unlikely to be a problem for Dan Friedkin, whose net worth is $7.6bn (£5.8bn).

If this goes through it will end a long-running saga that has seen several false dawns and bring an end to Moshiri's reign.

The British-Iranian businessman's tenure will be remembered for a period of fractured relations with the fanbase, PSR breaches, points deductions, relegation battles and eight permanent managers over his eight year ownership.

Listen to Total Sport Merseyside from 18:00 on weeknights and find details here of live Everton match commentaries on BBC Radio Merseyside

Explore Everton content on BBC Sounds

Tell us what you think of the ownership situation - are you optimistic?, external

Image source, Getty Images

Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite says he is "feeling good" on his return to football.

The centre-back returned to the field on Sunday with Everton's Under-21 side in their 4-3 victory against Sunderland Under-21s, his first match since June.

“I feel good. It’s good to get out there and get minutes under my belt," Branthwaite said.

"The game was entertaining and end-to-end, which is what I needed to get back up to speed.

"It's been frustrating, I would love to be out there with the lads. I’ve been taking the time to come back stronger, so that when I do come back, I can make an impact.

"You've got to have full belief in your own ability [to get back to the heights he showed last season]. After being out for such a long time it's going to be difficult to get back up to speed, but I believe that when I get a chance to get back in the team, I'll make an impact."

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport's Chief Football Writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions on the weekend's football action.

Anon asked: Hi Phil, Toffees fan here. I’m optimistic that Branthwaite’s return will mean better defensive solidity for Everton but I am worried that, though we are finally scoring goals, our back line still won’t be watertight on his return.

Do you think this is going to end up being a problem for Everton this season or is it a matter of time before we see Dyche pull together the resilient, defensive style he’s known for?

Phil answered: I think Branthwaite’s return can only be good for Everton and Sean Dyche will hope the addition of Mangala in midfield can provide an even stronger defensive shield. Branthwaite has been badly missed.

He will certainly hope so because Dyche’s big quality, as it was last season, is making his teams difficult to score against, which has not been the case this term as Everton have conceded 14 league goals in five games.

Everton and Dyche need it to happen quickly because it’s been a dreadful start to the season – even with the one point they finally have on the board after the draw at Leicester City.

Follow the rest of Phil's Q&A plus the rest of the day's football action here

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Leicester City and Everton.

Here are some of your comments:

Leicester fans

Andy: I feel like our squad is reasonably strong and some of our players are playing well but I just can't understand Steve Cooper's tactics. I'm not sure what he is trying to achieve. Watching Jordan Ayew trying to beat full-backs is painful. Starting a 33-year-old winger ahead of Abdul Fatawu and Kasey McAteer is baffling, especially when he's up against Ashley Young.

John: Could do better, so the saying goes. Playing too passively and not pressing teams early on - it's as if they are playing away at home games. This emanates from the manager, as does the questionable team selections and tactics. Urgent improvement needed or the worst will happen.

Dino: Pretty poor for most of the game. I don’t think we have an identity. Whether you liked Enzo Maresca's style or not, at least you knew what we were about. We seem to be stuck between styles. Stephy Mavididi was our best player but did get taken off!

James: Once again, it's a combination of too little, too late, and coming out of the starting blocks too slowly. Leicester were very poor in the first half and deserved to be behind. Tactics and substitutions were once again questionable, but still somehow salvaged a point. The Foxes once again showed they can compete, just too inconsistently to survive.

Everton fans

Carl: I just knew Leicester would score. We had chances to put the game to bed but we crumble in the last 20 minutes of games and Sean Dyche's subs are a joke. Too negative of a manager

Tony: We're scoring goals. We're making opportunities - that's progress on last season. We've got a manager with a sense of realism and players that care about the outcome. It's hard for fans who want more - the problem is without having money to buy the club or the ability to play there's not a lot of influence you can bring to bear. I have faith.

Ian: Two points lost. Why take Jesper Lindstrom off for Jack Harrison? That was a defensive move, when we should have been looking for a second. Then, to take Iliman Ndiaye off totally lost our attacking front. At least we got a point. Onwards and upwards.

Chris: We need to start defending better. It's great going in front, but this is the Premier League. If you don't take the other chances when they fall your way and you don't defend properly for 90-plus minutes you are going to get punished. There were one or two positives today, but we need to do much better if we are going to climb up the table.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Everton defender Ashley Williams expects Iliman Ndiaye to be "really important" for the Blues this season, after scoring his first Premier League goal for the club in Saturday's draw with Leicester.

"I thought he was Everton's best player today, especially in the first half. He had a very bright performance," Williams said on Match of the Day. "He has got really good balance. In a rigid Everton team, he's someone with a lot of creativity."

"He plays with a certain amount of freedom, which sometimes Sean Dyche's players don't do."

"I was really impressed. He has got nice feet, he is clever with what he's doing and he can beat his man.

"He is going to be really important for Everton."

Catch up on Match of the Day on BBC iPlayer

Former Brighton and Chelsea manager Graham Potter would be interested in taking over at Everton if the job becomes available. (Football Insider), external

England striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is not close to signing a new contract beyond next summer, as Newcastle United continue to monitor the 27-year-old's situation. (CaughtOffisde), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Gary Lineker presents highlights and analysis from Saturday's eight Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Liverpool 3-0 Bournemouth

• Crystal Palace 0-0 Manchester United

Image source, Getty Images

Everton boss Sean Dyche has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day following the draw: "I thought that it was a positive display from us. There have been question marks around us not winning, but we have got our nose in front and I thought we delivered a good performance.

"I don't like crying in luck too much, but the ball falls to them in a moment where we didn't look in too much trouble defensively. They only had two shots on target at home, which I'm pleased with.

"We know we have to take chances. We created enough again today to be more than one goal in front but, generally, it was a positive display.

"There are lots of positive signs. A ball falls to them in an unfortunate moment and that is the way it is going at the moment, but I thought that there was a big shift in our play today."

On goalscorer Iliman Ndiaye: "I'm really pleased [with him]. He ran out of steam a bit towards the end of the game, but he has played more football than we were expecting him to at this stage [of the season].

"For the goal, it was great play from Ashley Young to put the ball in and it was a great touch and finish from Iliman."

On remaining winless in the league: "I look at it as it is. There are positive signs that we are moving closer to the way we want to play. We are still moulding a group together that can do what we want them to do, so it's a constant work in progress."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Leicester’s performance, external

What did you make of Everton’s display?, external

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Follow reaction and read the match report