Everton’s impending takeover by AS Roma owner Dan Friedkin faces one serious hurdle. 
The US billionaire, who is believed to be worth around £5bn, has struck an exclusivity agreement with Farhad Moshiri.
Both parties have now entered into talks to define the exact terms of the sale of Moshiri’s 94 per cent stake
Among them were MSP Sports Capital and MSD Partners, who are part financed by Michael Dell.
Those groups, like failed takeover suitors 777 Partners, are all linked to multi-club models.
And that structure could prove a problem for Everton further down the line in Friedkin’s imminent premiership.
Everton will be junior partner in Dan Friedkin’s multi-club network
Friedkin’s ownership of Roma, whom he bought £533m will not disqualify him from buying Everton.
However, supporters have raised questions about how Friedkin will balance the competing needs of two famous European clubs.
And now, Italian outlet Gazzetta Dello Sport (via Sport Witness) are reporting that Roma will remain the senior club in Friedkin’s portfolio.
Significantly, this would likely mean Everton would be unable to play in the same European competition as Roma.
UEFA are clamping down on multi-club structures at a time when more and more investors, especially from US private equity, are buying into the model.
Man United and Man City’s sister clubs – Nice and Girona – have been given license to play alongside their subsidiary clubs in Europe, although this is merely a temporary reprieve.
UEFA will not be so lenient from 2025-26.
It is unlikely that Friedkin will steer Everton towards European competition in that timeframe, but UEFA’s crackdown places an upper limit on their ambitions going forward.
