FARHAD MOSHIRI is close to securing a bumper £250million investment from Americans LAMF Global.
But the Everton majority owner has no plans to sell out completely to Hollywood movie-makers Jeffrey Soros and Simon Horsman, who run the American company.
The pair have been in secret talks with Moshiri for months despite his other discussions with a US consortium fronted by former Manchester United CEO Peter Kenyon and backed by real estate tycoon Maciek Kaminski and oil magnate John Thornton.
The exclusivity period for the group to make a bid for the Toffees, valued last month at £800m, is now over and negotiations came to nothing.
But Horsman and Soros — nephew of celebrated tycoon George, who is worth £6billion — are now confident they will take a stake of up to 30 per cent in exchange for the cash.
The pair, who last year released feature film Some Kind of Heaven, are being aided by former Goodison director Keith Harris.
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A source close to Horsman and Soros — who own Los Angeles Media Fund after creating a special acquisition company to raise the funds to buy into a European club — says they are now “serious” about completing the deal.
Moshiri is understood to be keen, too, for the money would provide the extra cash he needs to complete the building of Everton’s new £500m stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, which is due to open in 2024.
The move could be a heavenly intervention for fans as well, for the extra funding may also be used to end any long-term fears of breaking Prem Financial Fair Play regulations.
Under Moshiri, who owns 94 per cent of the club, it has seen losses of £372m over the last three years.
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While over £560m has been spent on players since he moved in six years ago.
Brazilian star Richarlison was sold this summer to Tottenham for £60m to ease the financial pressure.
Boss Frank Lampard’s net spend on seven new players was just £25m.
But if Everton are seen to be balancing the books — and LAMF Global are understood to believe they will have an agreement in place by Christmas — Lamps could then go shopping in the January sales.
While Moshiri — who in total has pumped more than £600m into the club — did engage in talks with the Kenyon consortium, he also stressed in an open letter to supporters that he was staying put.
He said: “Of course, it will always be pragmatic to explore all potential investment opportunities.
“But I want to reassure all of you that Everton Football Club is not up for sale.”
He has stuck by that vow, while also now being close to bringing in the money from LAMF Global that would help give his club far greater financial strength.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
