Stefan Borson

Sun 2 March 2025 16:28, UK

Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor has been looking to sell his shares in the club for several months.

The American billionaire had instructed merchant bank Raine Group to identify interested parties for his 45 per cent stake at Selhurst Park as he looked to secure an Everton takeover last year, but that deal fell through.

The Athletic reported on 6 January a group backed by individuals from the US and Saudi Arabia has signed an exclusivity agreement to buy Textor’s stake in the club, but there has since been no update provided.

Finance expert Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider Palace’s other owners could have a time period to match the consortium’s bid, potentially delaying any takeover deal from being completed.

Alongside Textor, fellow US investors David Blitzer and Josh Harris as well as club chairman Steve Parish own shares at Selhurst Park.

Borson previously told Football Insider the Premier League could block a Palace takeover deal if it fails to receive the necessary assurances from any interested parties.

Oliver Glasner’s side have moved up to 12th in the top-flight table after an upturn in form, while they are also through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

Crystal Palace takeover deal is ‘complicated’ after John Textor rumours

Borson insisted a deal is “complicated” for Textor to complete due to the ownership structure at Palace.

He told Football Insider: “I think you’ve just got to wait.

“On Eagle, Textor is very good on the PR side of things and they’re still talking about a potential IPO in New York.

“There was talk this week that they’ll bring on former Man United CEO Ed Woodward as a director, and that they’ve appointed banks, including UBS.

“But the valuation that’s been spoken about seems to me to be very aggressive for the group, given the assets that they hold.

“As I’ve said before, the proof will be in what they actually deliver. If there is a listing and they do get a listing away at the sorts of evaluations they talk about, then great, and we’ll know that they were real about that.

“If the Palace deal is going to happen, then we’ll hear about it. It has been rumoured now for many months.

“It’s a sort of complicated deal in that you’ve probably got to get the cooperation of the other parts of the ownership group. They may well also have a time period in which they can match any offer that comes in, so we may be going through that period.

“That could easily be 90 days for them to go off and try and get their financing together to buy the 45 per cent.

“Alternatively, there may be no deal at all. It’s very hard. I think you just take everything with a pinch of salt, given the number of rumoured deals that have been around that group.

“I think you just wait and see what actually happens.”

Crystal Palace are racing Tottenham to sign Tyler Dibling

Recruitment expert Mick Brown told Football Insider Palace are racing Tottenham to sign Tyler Dibling following his impressive performances for Southampton.

Glasner’s side are believed to be keen on signing young, talented players they can help develop at Selhurst Park before selling them on for a major profit.

Dibling is certain to leave Southampton if they are relegated at the end of this season, with his side currently rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table.

A fee of around £25million is understood to be enough to sign the 19-year-old winger, who has registered four goals and two assists in 28 outings this season.

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