John Textor pulling out all the stops to agree full Everton takeover – sources
John Textor wants to complete a full takeover at Everton after registering his interest in securing a deal for the club, sources have told Football Insider.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed it wouldn’t be a straightforward deal for the American businessman to pursue due to his shares in Crystal Palace.
Premier League rules state a party can’t own a stake in more than one top-flight club, meaning Textor would have to sell his 45 per cent shareholding at Selhurst Park.
O’Rourke revealed the 58-year-old is looking for the Premier League to show some leeway and asking if he can pursue his interest in an Everton takeover while he looks to offload his shares in Crystal Palace.
It comes after 777 Partners failed to get its takeover bid over the line after agreeing a £500million deal for Farhad Moshiri’s 94.1 per cent stake at Goodison Park last September.
John Textor could sell Crystal Palace shares to secure Everton takeover
Football Insider first revealed last month American bidders had contacted Moshiri about buying the Merseyside giants.
Textor has now been revealed to be one of those parties as the Everton owner looks to quickly agree a new takeover deal due to the club’s precarious financial position.
Crystal Palace are one of four teams Textor’s company Eagle Football Holdings owns shares in, with majority stakes in French side Lyon, Brazilian first division club Botafogo and Belgian side RWD Molenbeek.
O’Rourke admitted the Missouri-born businessman likely sees the Merseysiders as a “bigger project” than Crystal Palace as the club prepares to move to their new stadium on Bramley-Moore Dock next year.
Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness told Football Insider Textor could complete an immediate takeover at Goodison by putting his Crystal Palace shares into a “blind trust”.
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