Everton on the verge of takeover by Middle Eastern buyer

How does it sound better when nothing has actually been said and why is some unnamed mystery man from the Middle East automatically more trustworthy than an American group? It could be fucking Ra's Al Ghul or Azamat Bagatov for all the info we have at this point.

I mean I could name some billionaire and state "I've heard" without a single bit of evidence. Simple point is, there is nobody in the know, and that's the simple truth.

It's a blessing we have those nice kind financiers in the Virgin Islands to keep an eye on us, isn't it!

Not hiding your anti-Yankism, are ya?

Putz.

Roll on Tuesday. :)

1 M&N make a low offer

2 Bill leaks that there is an alternative mystery buyer

3 M&N weren't born yesterday and call his bluff

4 the mystery buyer, who never existed, evaporates

5 BK sells to M&N, who are the only game in town.

I just hope something happens because the present owners have overseen the demise of one the great clubs in English football. If the new owners invest properly they will be staggered at the potential here.

When I look at Arsenal with their years of Champions League appearances and their fantastic stadium, I just think we should be there too. It wasn't that long ago that we were on a par with them.

The same with a new stadium until I see sides and a roof erected, I don't believe the hype.

Standards sipping, eh, Darren – looks like I'm on the up then.

Given Arsenal are said to be worth ٟ.6 billion then seems coincidental that rumours are rife about Everton and he has just got a wedge of 𧶘 million. Can't say I have an opinion on this just yet as I will wait for further developments. But jigsaws and all that. COYB

Football (or soccer) is far huger globally by a country mile.

I'm getting all excited here and I don't know what the fuck's going on...

On the other hand, the same can be said about local boys like Kenwright, Morgan and the RS Moores!

We are Everton Football Club, we are not a business to take huge greedy profits from. That's why people are against the American takeover.

We want a huge investor with money who wants to have his seat in a fantastic stadium and watch his investment on the pitch winning trophies. No strings, no money taken out of the club, no re-mortgages, no dividends.

I think this rumour is genuine interest that has been on going for several months now behind the scenes. At least this guy knows the country, the league and is coming from a well run club.

Usmanov: 'I can confirm that I have purchased the whole stake of Farhad Moshiri, thereby increasing my holding in Arsenal to over 30%.'

Mark, that'd be everyone's dream, but not a reality for me. I will be happy to have someone in charge who can move us forward a little more and take us at least to a level where trophies start coming to Everton again. It's been far too long since we were considered challengers for anything.

Everton have become a prize commodity – not just because of our heritage and who we are. We are available and I expect a lot of interest; we are now in a win-win situation, as I believe Bill will get the best deal for Everton.

Exciting times...

As a conspiracy theory, you have really got me wondering now. If Arsenal are worth over a billion, and Farhad Moshiri has just cashed in £200 million, and we are for sale for £200 million, you never know. Plus, the story is just breaking on the Internet - I have just seen this clip on the telegraph website:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/Everton/12175747/Everton-poised-for-takeover-by-former-Arsenal-shareholder-Farhad-Moshiri.html

Bloody hell – he must have asked!!!

Thank you, ToffeeWeb. You never fail to deliver and raise a smile!

What have Apple got to do with anything? Have they successfully run a Premier League club? Three clubs have American owners in the Premier League and all have gone backwards under those owners, bringing instability and fan unrest. Therefore any fan of a Premier League club would be stupid not to be wary when hearing they may be getting new, American owners.

The key point being that they run clubs as businesses (they even call them 'franchises', for God's sake – talk about a culture clash!) where 'victory' for the owner is profit, not trophies.

Russian and Middle Eastern owners have adopted much more of a 'Prestige Train Set' attitude to their clubs, where money is for spending and victory is in trophies and supporter acclaim.

It doesn't mean we hate your whole country.

They're no different to us, people are people all over the world and if you're fine with them, they're fine with you. Yanks? I quite like them. Mind you, I also like the French...

To me, that sounds like Bill is only going as far as changing his puppet-master. Mashiri for Green.

I won't bore you with details but I've asked a couple of billionaires what it would take for them to buy Everton. Apart from price, exit strategy etc, they said they'd need an emotional tie; otherwise, there's better investment opportunities out there...

Do you think Man City or Chelsea cared whether their owners are fans? I don't think so...

I'm not biased but I would prefer £B arabs, hope the Yanks in our midst don't take the hump!!

1. Usmanov and Moshiri are both Arsenal shareholders [that's an indisputable fact].

2. Usmanov has just increased his shareholding [that's an indisputable fact]

3. Usmanov has increased his shareholding by precisely the amount of the shares held by Moshiri [that's an indisputable fact]

4. Usmanov has therefore bought Moshiri's shares [this is overwhelmingly likely]

5. Moshiri now has circa £200m to spend [overwhelmingly likely]

6. He is going to use this circa £200m to buy Everton [probable]

7. Moshiri is worth about £2 billion, and, though ethnically Iranian, is a British citizen, with a British passport, living in London [all indispuable facts]

8. Draw your own conclusions from all this!!

Moshiri has the money – he's reportedly worth ٟ.5 billion after selling his Arsenal shares. He must also have good contacts in the world of football. The fact that he has been a part of a stable football club previously is also reassuring, I can't see him wanting to asset-strip us – that is always the fear with new owners. I can't see too much to be negative about, if this is true...

You sound like Rafa!

So, it's basically like Game Of Thrones except we don't get our tits out?

Having said that, I hope it is true. For one thing, as a chartered accountant, perhaps we'll finally have someone on board who can explain where all the sodding money goes, and what makes up "other operating costs"!

I also think you might now see Wayne Rooney back at Everton. Which I'm not too fussed about. To be our first big signing of our supposedly new owner.

It's fair to say none of us has a clue what's actually going on, aside from what we read on the Internet or hear on Sky news so we can all try to outdo each other as always on here, but until the club come out and tell us, this is all the same old bluster on TW.

Opinions on footballing matters are one thing, opinions on business deals are quite another – see above re the weird "I don't want Americans with no money" or "this guy only has £2B, it's not enough" comments.

Whistling in the wind, gents.

It's on the BBC now, so may have some truth behind it, but I will believe when I see it. Agreed, that it could be a ruse. But, I'm just going to let the cards fall and then assess.

May not be the best deal out there available for our club. But if it gives Uncle Bill the opportunity to continue waxing lyrical and coming over all teary eyed while sitting in the front row, who are we to argue?

Farhad Moshiri seems like a decent fellow by all accounts.

Let's just hope all proposals are given due consideration and the first suitcase loaded with cold hard cash isn't grabbed off the table and stuffed into the boot outside a rusting Goodison.

The right owners can take this club back to the top where we belong – we are still witnessing full houses after a generation of mediocrity or worse.

I just hope all those old farts who missed every opportunity presented to them on a plate go and enjoy their spoils far, far away from the club. If ever a clean sweep was needed from top to bottom of any organisation, EFC is a prime example.

When I was back home, my grandson – a Manc journo to my eternal shame – did tell me Richardson who was well in with Fergie – had railed against VDG and 'had got his ticket from the pressers'. So I'm sure you are right!

I'm not holding my breath on this Mail exclusive, probably another load of cobblers.

5 years ago, this might have worked, but the drop in oil prices means they are all looking to secure what assets still remain. If anyone is expecting a spending spree, forget it. New ground? No chance.

I'd prefer a Scouse billionaire but we're not going to get that lucky – so let's hope that if this takeover is true – that it's to the group / individual with our best interests at heart.

BBC pushing it as well.

I'm feeling positive about all this.

God I like this story.

The best way for this to happen Is for the club to be successful – which will suit everyone.

People celebrate oil-price drops like winning the lottery and it even brings praise for the leaders of certain countries. The truth is it does have a knock-on effect and people will suffer elsewhere.

I know little about the subject. In your opinion, what industry would you like a potential buyer to be in?

And before any of you doom and gloom merchants start – Get on board and let's go for the ride of our lives

COYB – Onwards and upwards.

Hopefully there is a full staged takeover. 49.9% now with a view to further purchases in the future. There is a few conspiracy theories running round in my head. Is he the profit before the real deal comes in? Is he just setting the scene or paving the way for Usmanov?