Everton set to embark on a new era under the Friedkin Group by Gary McCarty 27 November, 2024 With Everton’s long-running ownership saga finally edging towards a conclusion, Everton fans can start thinking about what the future may hold. The Friedkin Group are on track to complete the acquisition by mid-December, which ties in nicely with the upcoming transfer window in January. However, despite claims that the club already has a plan in place for its transfer business, it would be unwise to expect too many high-profile signings. It would also be foolish to wager on Everton surging up the Premier League in the second half of the season, with the new owners unlikely to make too many drastic changes. The latest sports betting odds rate the Toffees as 25/1 shots to finish in the top half of the standings, which some fans may find tempting. Grabbing odds of 1/3 for Everton to stay in the Premier League may be a more viable betting proposition for anyone looking to capitalise on the arrival of the new owners. While they are guaranteed to make some changes behind the scenes, it will be next summer before the real revolution starts. One of the primary issues to address is manager Sean Dyche’s future. Dyche should survive until the end of the season Dyche is a best-priced 25/1 to be the next Premier League manager to leave his post and there is little value in taking those hefty odds at the moment. He has done a decent job in difficult circumstances and the new owners will probably stick with him until the end of the season. Dyche’s pragmatic style of play is often used as a stick to beat him with, yet the suspicion remains that he would be more expansive if he had the right tools to work with. In the short term, the club will likely make a couple of additions to the squad in January to ensure they maintain their top flight status. That will give Dyche the chance to keep them afloat before the club’s new owners part company with him and appoint their own man next summer. Off-field changes will be the first order of business The Friedkin Group will make several key changes behind the scenes to ensure they have the right structure in place to take the club forward. Tottenham Hotspur’s former managing director of football Fabio Paratici has been linked with Everton and could replace Kevin Thelwell next summer. Eric Williamson may be another noteworthy appointment. He has previously worked for the new owners in several roles across all of their businesses. Williamson has been described as ‘change engineer’ – effectively someone who will come into the club and make wholesale operational changes. Intriguingly, he may have his hands full with another club under the Friedkin Group’s control, Roma. Developments there could concern Everton fans. Roma’s slide fires a cautionary note towards Everton The attitude of Roma fans towards the Friedkin Group has changed over the past few months following a poor start to the season and Daniele de Rossi’s sacking. The Roma legend replaced Jose Mourinho as manager in January 2024, but was ruthlessly axed in September after the team failed to win any of their first four games. Andy Mattioli from the RomaPress Podcast says the fans believe they have been betrayed by the owners, but admits the Freidkin’s decision was unsurprising. "They have always been very determined in their actions," Mattioli told the BBC. "If something isn't working, they cut to the chase and get rid of that person. It has happened on a number of occasions - they have always been very swift. If they come to Everton, they are coming in with the ambition of raising this team from the dead. "This Everton team is struggling and it wants to aspire to better things, rather than just fighting relegation, and that is what the Friedkins will be focusing on. Roma fans are also fearing the Friedkins might get sidetracked thinking about the brighter lights, bigger prestige and greater stage of the Premier League." The owners will be eager to turn Everton’s fortunes around With the club set to embark on a new ownership era and move to a new stadium, expectations will understandably high among the fanbase next year. The Friedkin Group quickly delivered silverware at Roma, with Mourinho guiding them to the Europa Conference League title in his first season with the club. Wagering on Everton to secure European qualification at the end of the 2025/26 season could deliver a sizeable return to sports bettors who believe the new owners will revitalise the club. The bookmakers’ odds will likely be reasonably generous and are well worth checking out once the Friedkin Group have stamped their mark on the club.