A wave of fresh candidates have emerged in the Everton takeover battle.
Farhad Moshiri is exploring alternative options after his exclusivity deal with 777 Partners elapsed last weekend following a protracted eight-month saga.
Local businessmen and lifelong fans Andy Bell and George Downing are in talks with the Blues’ majority shareholder about potentially taking the reins.
The pair already have an existing relationship with the club in a £158 million loan with MSP Sports Capital for funding towards Bramley-Moore Dock.
Bell and Downing’s bid is a mixture of fresh equity and a £350M loan secured against Everton’s future home that will refinance the club’s current debts.
BDT & MSD Partners would provide the loan as the merchant bank which also manages the personal fortune computer billionaire Michael Dell.
But Dell is understood not to be involved in the takeover approach due to the fund already lending money to several clubs in English football’s top two tiers.
MSP themselves are also in the running despite previously collaborating with Bell and Downing for the Bramley-Moore funding package, struck last year.
It emerged on Sunday that Vatche Manoukian has joined the race with investors in the Gulf and United States said to be behind is proposed bid.
Beyond those established bidders, John Textor remains interested but unable to formalise any bid until a buyer for his 45% share in Crystal Palace is found.
Roma owner Dan Friedkin is also mulling over a potential takeover of Everton, having overseen the club reach successive European finals since 2020.