Everton in talks with 'four' companies over takeover, Keith Wyness reveals 'most likely route'

Everton owners The Friedkin Group are currently exploring the possibility of selling the club to multiple different investment groups.

That is according to former Toffees chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the American owners are trying to "test the market" at the moment.

This comes after reports last weekend suggested that the Friedkins have already been in consultation with a London-based firm over a deal to buy the club.

Wyness believes that the Friedkins are currently "creating options for themselves" and are looking to open as many avenues as possible for a potential sale.

At this stage, the prospects of either a minority sale or a full takeover of Everton are both on the table.

The Friedkins reportedly value the club at around the £1billion mark in full, and any minority sales would be brokered according to that valuation.

Keith Wyness shares 'most likely route' for Everton takeover

Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that the "most likely route" for a takeover is for an initial minority sale, with the investors possessing a clause to buy the rest of the club in full within a certain time period.

That is identical to the situation at Liverpool, with the Jeff Bezos-backed consortium that recently bought into the club expected to take over in full within the next 12 months.

Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Wyness explained that the Friedkins will want to keep their options as open as possible.

"I think it's fairly clear what they're doing, and there'll be more than one group coming up. There'll be three or four," he said.

"What they're clearly trying to do, as we've discussed before, is that they're testing the market. They're going to see if they can get themselves some options, and that's what you need to do: create as many options as possible. 

"If they come across somebody who's prepared to pay the price in terms of a quick sale, that may happen. But I think probably the most likely route may still be a minority stake with an option to buy forward.

"All they're doing right now is creating options. They're sitting there with a good hand of cards. If they get the right deal, then they'll move. If not, they'll hang on. But yes, there is definitely something happening in the marketplace."

David Moyes ready to 'talk to other clubs'

Wyness previously told Football Insider earlier this week that David Moyes is likely to start "talking to other clubs" if his future isn't secure by January.

The Everton boss is out of contract on Merseyside at the end of the season, but he is yet to be offered a new deal despite a bright start to the campaign.

Wyness believes that a change of ownership could see Moyes ousted, but he is adamant that the Scot is deserving of at least a "one-year rolling contract."

The 63-year-old's future at the Hill Dickinson Stadium is hugely uncertain, and Wyness believes he is every right to start looking elsewhere.