Dan Friedkin Poised to Appoint Transfer Record-Breaker in Everton Takeover

Dan Friedkin, a US media and sports investor with assets valued at nearly £5bn, has entered exclusive negotiations with Farhad Moshiri to acquire Everton. Unlike the previous exclusive talks between 777 Partners and Moshiri, this deal is expected to be agreed upon and approved by the Premier League without any issues. However, given the complexity of the deal, it may take several weeks or even months to finalize.

Despite the ongoing negotiations, Friedkin is already envisioning the future of the Merseyside club under his ownership. This includes the potential appointment of a key individual who would serve as his second in command behind the scenes. According to The ECHO, Friedkin is likely to appoint his son, Ryan Friedkin, to a senior position at Everton. Ryan has already held similar roles at other clubs in Friedkin’s portfolio, such as AS Roma and AS Cannes.

Since 2020, Dan Friedkin has been the controlling shareholder of AS Roma, where he appointed Ryan as vice-president. Under their leadership, Roma sanctioned a record net outlay of almost £100m in the 2021-22 season. Additionally, Friedkin acquired AS Cannes last year and provided the French side with nearly £2.5m to spend this summer, a record amount for a club in the fourth tier of the French football pyramid. While Everton currently lacks the financial capacity to break their own transfer records established under Moshiri, these developments suggest a promising future for the club under Friedkin’s ownership.

Regarding Everton’s financial situation, the club appears to have met the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) threshold for the three years up to the 2023-24 season. This achievement is partly due to a creative approach to player trading, where players were exchanged for equivalent fees with other PSR-threatened clubs, providing a short-term boost to the accounts. However, the next assessment window covers a period when Everton has sustained heavier losses, indicating potentially challenging times ahead.

Furthermore, the Premier League aims to close certain loopholes that have served as workarounds for PSR compliance. This includes the quasi-swap deals that have been prevalent in recent weeks and the capitalisation of loans for the Bramley Moore Dock stadium in Everton’s 2022-23 accounts. Unlike other clubs like Chelsea, who have sold on-site facilities to improve their PSR position, Everton cannot capitalize significantly from the sale of the Goodison Park site.

Given these challenges, it appears that things may get worse before they get better for Everton in the Friedkin era. However, with strategic appointments and careful financial management, the long-term prospects for the club could improve significantly under new ownership.