Everton's owners 'want an awful lot of money' to finalise takeover
The Friedkin Group's (TFG) intentions behind buying Everton were always eventually to be about making a profit.
That is the opinion of former senior Everton scout, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
Dan Friedkin's consortium are now looking to sell the Toffees for around £1billion, less than two years after completing a takeover worth a reported £400million.
The American businessman oversaw the move to Hill Dickinson Stadium and has undoubtedly guided Everton towards far more stable financial ground, yet most of the good decisions have come off the pitch.
On it, fans of the Toffees have been left hugely frustrated by poor transfer windows, with the almost-sale of Harrison Armstrong and the failure to replace Beto on deadline day seen by many as a breaking point.
David Moyes was appointed by TFG after their takeover, but the Scot confirmed in September he has never actually spoken to or met Friedkin.
Everton's owners 'don't realise the history of the club'
Should TFG agree a sale of Everton in the coming months, they will leave having had a positive effect.
The Toffees were fighting relegation and in financial hardship when the takeover took place, with the club today in a far stronger position.
Yet not everybody is convinced that their intentions were necessarily positive.
"I don't think the the owners of the club have a really good relationship with David Moyes. I think he's got too much football knowledge for them, that's for sure, because they haven't got a lot," King told Football Insider.
"People who spend that kind of money to take over a Premier League club and then want to get rid of it within two years [make you think].
"I mean, Everton fans are loyal. David Moyes is loyal. It seems that the owners have been here and don't realise the history of the football club.
"It shows that these people are out to make money and that's it. It'll be interesting to see who takes over, they want an awful lot of money for it."
What did The Friedkin Group promise?
Upon their takeover in 2024, TFG made a number of commitments in a statement to the fans of their new club.
The Americans claimed that these goals would allow them to "realise Everton's full potential."
These included "strengthening the men’s first-team squad through thoughtful and strategic investment", "cultivating home-grown superstars through Everton’s academy" and "enhancing Everton’s reputation as a unique and historical name in world football."
Though the Toffees are undoubtedly in a better place, there is plenty of question marks over the success of TFG's goals.