Everton takeover: Insider reveals the price TFG will accept to 'settle' agreement

The Friedkin Group may ultimately have to settle for an £800million valuation in order to sell Everton in the coming months.

That is according to former Toffees chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the Americans won't get the £1billion valuation that they are hoping for.

The club are now officially up for sale, with the hope that a full takeover can be completed before the end of the current campaign.

Wyness believes that Everton's £380million debt will prevent any potential buyers from going up towards the £1bn mark initially.

Any new owners will be well aware of the fact that tackling that debt will become their immediate priority if and when they take charge.

David Moyes' side have made an excellent start to the new Premier League campaign, but things are far from certain off the pitch at the moment.

TFG hoping for Everton 'auction'

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 Friedkins are effectively hoping for an "auction" to play out in the coming months.

If multiple interested parties came to the table, then Wyness believes it could potentially drive the price up towards the £900m mark.

Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, he explained why TFG won't get their £1bn valuation at this stage.

"Well, I think it's going to come back to about £800m, which is where I think the market's going to settle. Now, if it starts to be an auction, then it's going to go up to £850m, £900m possibly at that sort of level," Wyness said.

"There's also £380m of debt which will have to be handled and transferred, and then hopefully the new owner can handle those terms that the debt's under. 

"We'd always said between £700m and £1bn, and I think we're coming in exactly on that sort of midway point. Look, it's a great asset for somebody, and I think the stadium revenue streams are really undercooked at the moment. 

"There's a long way to go in developing that stadium and working with the city on the transportation. So there's a big upside for people, and I think Everton can certainly challenge at the top half. So there's a great chance to take something here of some success and move it forward."

TFG plan to withdraw Everton funding

Wyness previously told Football Insider earlier this week that TFG are unlikely to continue funding Everton if the club isn't sold before next summer.

The ownership have pledged to continue running the club as normal until a buyer has been found, but Wyness believes that will change next summer.

The boardroom expert believes that the Toffees will only be funded at "maintenance level" if a takeover isn't done by then, although he fully expects that timeframe to be achievable.

Everton are sure to be an attractivee proposition for potential buyers, and the Friedkins being keen to sell only helps that situation.