‘Marinakis to agree takeover deal with John Textor – there will be fireworks’
Crystal Palace’s former shareholder John Textor could be set to join forces with Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Textor recently quit Palace after he was the reason why the Eagles were demoted from the Conference League by UEFA.
Ironically, Forest were the beneficiaries from this decision, taking the South London side’s place in the Europa League.
Now, the billionaire duo could be set to work together, as Textor-owned Botafogo look set to join Marinakis‘ conglomerate of clubs.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that the move wouldn’t be too much of an insult to Crystal Palace.
‘Marinakis and Textor won’t last long together’
This article contains exclusive comment from Keith Wyness, former Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen CEO.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness revealed that he would be amazed if the Textor-Marinakis partnership lasted very long, due to the fiery nature of both characters.
The Nottingham Forest owner is no stranger to a controversial situation, as proved by the way he got involved in Crystal Palace’s Europa League case.
Wyness added that Palace owner Steve Parish didn’t want to work with Textor, so won’t exactly feel betrayed by him.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I don’t think Palace will be too insulted. Textor said that Steve Parish didn’t want to play the game that he wanted to, in terms of taking all the young talent from South America, putting them into Palace, and then selling them on.
“Steve Parish wanted a different strategy, which I understand for Palace as well.”
“Look, the Marinakis-Textor situation. What a pair of characters together there. From all I’ve been reading about the deal and the situation of both of them, it would be more Marinakis with the upper hand, given the weakness that Textor’s got in his financial position at the moment.
“He was paying a lot of debt to a company called Ares in the United States, at something like 19.75 per cent from what I understand. So there are a lot of issues around that financial situation.
“I do think that Textor can point to the fact that he has uncovered an interesting way to handle talent and to move it around.
“It’s an interesting situation, two fiery characters. I’ve got to say I’d be amazed if that one lasts, as two loving buddies together drifting off into the sunset. I think there’s going to be some fireworks, and it will be interesting.”
‘Crystal Palace make Marc Guehi decison’
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace are reportedly planning to accept an offer for Marc Guehi before the transfer window closes rather than lose him for free next summer.
That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who claims that the 25-year-old will be allowed to leave if an acceptable offer arrives.
While Oliver Glasner remains keen to keep hold of his captain, there is a belief that his sale for around £40m would allow Palace to spend in the closing stages of the window.
Brown told Football Insider on 4 August that Liverpool are preparing a new offer for Guehi, who has his heart set on a move to Anfield.
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