American businessman Dan Friedkin is on the verge of completing a takeover of Everton, and he brings significant financial backing with him, according to talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan.
Friedkin, whose net worth is estimated at $7.6 billion (£5.7 billion) by Forbes, has reportedly agreed to acquire Farhad Moshiri’s controlling stake in the club. As Everton grapples with financial challenges, including loans to finish their Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium, Friedkin is believed to have a plan in place to address the £200 million debt initially owed to 777 Partners, according to The Athletic.
Speaking on talkSPORT on 24 September, Jordan emphasized the scale of Friedkin’s financial resources. “My understanding is that he [Dan Friedkin] is very substantial, and he has proper, proper wealth,” Jordan said. “Yes, you can point at some of the travails of some of the current Roma side, but I get the impression he’s a very substantial individual.”
While some fans have expressed concern over the increasing American ownership in the Premier League, Jordan suggested that Friedkin’s takeover would mark an improvement for Everton. “He’s an American owner, so the flipside of the argument is that there are concerns in some peoples’ minds about where the sport might be going by having these sorts of ownership models in the Premier League,” he said. “But I personally believe, the moment you put an end to this clown college Moshiri has resided over, irrespective of how wealthy he may be, the better it is for Everton.”