Ever since the end of the the 2023/24 Premier league season, it’s been nothing but good vibes at Everton football club. It was the longest bit of sustained stability and good news in many years. Thing is, these things don’t last forever. This is Everton football club after all, something will always go wrong. This time it was a pretty big something. The Friedkin group who was looking poised to complete a smooth take over of the club suddenly dropped out shocking everyone in the process. It had seemed before the drop out that things were moving very well and that completion wasn’t that far away. Once again though, 777 rears their ugly heads and drags the club down again. Everton has a loan with 777, and as it’s been reported the 777 group has a ton of instability at the top of their own organization, and are embroiled in multiple legal battle now.
Here is what it boiled down to, and why Everton are once again looking for new owners. Everton has a loan from 777. Initially it was thought this loan would be paid to A cap. A second private equity firm Leadenhall Capital Partners said assets were owed to them per an agreement when Leadenhall lent 777 money. This will end out playing out in court and that could take awhile. The Friedkin group also reportedly wanted to negotiate down the 200 million owed, but can’t because it’s unclear who the money is owed to. All of this is to say the juice wasn’t worth the squeeze at this time for the Friedkin group. Now, this might end up being a negotiating tactic to try and lower the price of purchase, or it’s a massive issue that could scare off other potential buyers as well. Time will tell, but Everton will be keeping a close eye on the court proceedings to come.
Despite the doom and gloom of losing a potential buyer of the club, things have not been all bad in July. The renaissance of the squad continued. It all happened towards the end of the month, first move was an outgoing this time around. Amadou Onana departed to Aston Villa for a reported fee of 61 million pounds all told. Onana never really got to show his true ability during his time at Everton. He’s a great player and he made Everton quite a bit of money with his sale. After the Onana sale, it was time for two more additions to Sean Dyche’s new look Everton. First up was Jesper Lindstrom. He comes to Everton on loan from Napoli. He’s not coming off a good season, but he’s a player who was very good for a Eintracht Frankfurt side that one the Europa League just a few seasons ago. He can play on the wings and as an attacking midfielder as well. He will provide Everton with some much needed creativity, and some pace to burn as well. His loan also comes with a 22 million pound buy option, so if he does well Everton will have gotten a steal for the 24 year old Dane. The second and final incoming in July was the massive Center Back Jake O’Brien. O’Brien came to Everton for Lyon for a small upfront fee, and with add ons the deal can reach up to 20 million pounds. One thing Everton’s back line won’t be lacking is height. O’Brien is listed at 6’6″, and Branthwaite isn’t that much smaller then him. Obviously Tarkowski is still going to be starting, but at 23 years old, Everton now have another promising CB to mold and sufficient cover if any injuries occur. These two new additions bring the total of player brought in up to 5 before the end of July.
For Everton that is rather incredible and not how the club has been operating in the past few seasons for obvious reasons. Everton are likely not done in the window yet. Another midfielder would likely be next on needs for Everton. With Onana gone, and Gana getting older, and now James Garner with an injury, albeit one that won’t keep him out very long, it’s a real area of need. Everton would probably still like to add a striker, but wouldn’t be able to do so without one leaving the club. Maybe further down the list would be cover at full back, but that hasn’t really been something Everton have been linked with a lot. Finally another winger. It’s best for everyone to have as many attacking options as possible, and a winger would be a good add. We will see what happens over the final 31 days of the window.
With the start of July comes the start of the next league season. Player came back from their holidays or individual training and began building their fitness for the impending Premier League season. The Pre season is where Sean Dyche shines, as he is well known for putting his players through the ringer in order to have players in tip top shape for the whole season. With this came the return of pre season friendlies as well. Everton played in 4 friendlies in July. Sligo Rover, Salford City Coventry City, and Preston North End. It started at Sligo Rovers. It was a cool full circle moment for the Captain of Everton Seamus Coleman, in what is probably his final season playing football. Returning to the first club to give him a professional contract, where he began his footballing journey. Everton ended up drawing the match 3-3. Debuts from Tim Iroegbunam, Iliman Nidaye in the second half. Youssef Chermiti scored a brace in less than 2 minutes to save a draw. The second friendly was Salford City. It was a rather drab match, something you would expect to see in a pre season friendly. James Garner notched the only goal a free kick, but Everton gave up 2 goals later and were beaten 2-1. Next came Coventry City. This was easily the worst friendly performance to this point. Not too many positives to take away. One you could say is that that Tim Iroegbunam was the best player for Everton by a wide margin.
Lastly came Preston North End, after having their worst performance of the pre season, Everton had their best against Preston. Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored on a penalty in the first half. In his debut for the club Jake O’Brien scored after coming on as a sub in the second half. He wasn’t the only one scoring on his debut. Jesper Lindstrom scored direct from a free kick, and Everton dispatched Preston North End 3-0. The performances were up and down in the pre season friendlies, but the final one against Preston showed some big improvement and hopefully that can be carried into the final friendly against Roma at Goodison park.
With July now over the Premier League season is right around the corner. Brighton comes to Goodsion park in just under two weeks time. There is still work to be done on the squad, but overall it’s a decent place for the first couple matches of the season. The real issue is still the lack of a new owner and the potential road blocks that will scare off those who could be interested in purchasing the club. These issues will go to the back of the mind of most people wants the season kicks off, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t the most important thing that is facing Everton right now. These legal issues are out of Everton’s hands, and they will have to wait to see how it plays out, but Everton might not have the time to wait and need to sort out new potential owners straight away. Outside of that, it’s exciting times at the club. The final season at Goodison is about to kick off, the beginnings of the playing surface has begun to be laid at BMD, in two weeks time Everton play a real meaningful football match. Hopefully when we are back here next month we are talking about being unbeaten in August and Friedkin has come back and is actually buying the club.
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