Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has insisted the club’s takeover will be concluded “this summer” – but not before the transfer window opens next month.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – claimed he “knows for a fact” that other groups are waiting in the wings as 777 Partners struggle to complete a deal.
777 have been set a deadline of 31 May to complete a deal before Everton are able to pursue other options.
The US-based investment group have so far been unable to satisfy Premier League conditions and convince top-flight chiefs to approve the deal, despite agreeing the takeover back in September 2023.
Everton secured their top-flight safety convincingly in the 2023-24 campaign despite being deducted eight points in total for financial rule breaches.
Everton takeover will happen ‘this summer’, says Wyness
Wyness claimed fans could see definitive movement on a deal in the summer.
He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “I think they have to look at other people right now.
“777 have obviously had quite a long time now, as we’ve documented.
“There’s also been quite a clear communication from the Premier League as to what they want to see for the deal to go through – and they haven’t satisfied that, as far as we can see.
“I know for a fact there are other groups in the wings, and some of them have passed on the opportunity.
“As positions change on what different parties willing to accept, we’re going to come to a conclusion.
“It won’t happen before the transfer window, unfortunately, but at some point during the summer we will see a conclusion.”
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