US billionaire and Roma owner Dan Friedkin has ‘reignited his plan to buy Everton’

The US billionaire Dan Friedkin has reportedly rekindled his interest in buying Everton.

Friedkin, who is the CEO of The Friedkin Group (TFG), and also the owner of Serie A side Roma, is believed to be willing to return to the negotiating table with Everton’s majority shareholder, Farhad Moshiri, over a potential sale of the club.

This comes after Friedkin ended interest in any takeover of the Toffees in July, owing to the structuring of debt the Merseyside club has engaged in under owner Moshiri.

This opened the door for Crystal Palace co-owner, John Textor, to pursue his own purchase of the club – should the US billionaire be able to sell his stake in the south London club in the near future.

It was reported last week that Textor has secured the backing of investment firm Aliya Capital Partners and entrepreneur Alexander Bafer to engage his pursuit.

Friedkin had reportedly cited worries about debts left behind by the controversial 777 Partners, whom the club owe around £200million.

Houston-based TFG had pulled out of negotiations back in July, over concerns about debt owed to previous would-be buyers Miami-based 777 Partners.

The Texas-based group had previously entered into an exclusivity agreement with Moshiri in mid June, which was seen as a huge boost after a protracted saga earlier in the summer.

777 are now being looked at by insolvency experts after a series of lawsuits, allegations of fraud and delayed payments in the last year.

TFG meanwhile, have lent Everton money owed to another lender, MSP Sports Capital, and paid the latest invoice owed to Laing O’Rourke, the constructor of the Toffees’ new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

A joint statement from the club and TFG read: ‘The parties agree it is in both their interests for Everton to explore alternative options.

‘The Friedkin Group will remain a lender to the club and is proud to have played a key role in enabling the new stadium to be built, which will help ensure a bright future for both Everton and the city of Liverpool.’

Dan Friedkin is Chairman and CEO of The Friedkin Group, a privately held consortium of businesses and investments in the automotive, hospitality, entertainment, golf and adventure industries.

He holds various leadership positions within the US business community, and is ‘highly active in wildlife conservation initiatives and various aviation and education philanthropies’.