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AN AMERICAN consortium has joined the race to buy Everton.
The Toffees suffered another blow in their bid to avoid going into administration last week as US investors The Friedkin Group’s proposed takeover collapsed.
They had a period of exclusivity for talks with current owner Farhad Moshiri over an £800m deal.
But The Friedkin Group, who also own Roma, pulled out on Thursday due to concerns about the crisis club’s debt to 777 Partners.
They had pumped in £200m to keep the club afloat — but failed in an attempt to buy Everton in June as the Premier League refused to ratify the deal.
777 Partners did not receive approval as chiefs were worried they did not have the cash to meet their obligations after backers cut ties with them and the company was hit with legal issues in the US and Europe.
But a new consortium from across the pond now want to buy Everton.
They are led by former LA Dodgers general manager Kevin Malone.
And the group will reportedly make an offer to Moshiri in the coming weeks after seeing initial interest knocked back due to The Friedkin Group’s exclusivity agreement.
Malone’s consortium will be rivalled by British investment firm Vici Private Finance.
SunSport understands they are confident of completing a takeover in a matter of weeks.
Vici Private Finance are being advised by former Everton director Keith Harris.
Local businessmen and Toffees fans Andy Bell and George Downing could also return to the negotiating table.
The mega-rich duo are open to waiving the millions owed to them after helping to fund the build of their new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium in exchange for a stake in the club.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace part-owner John Textor is unlikely to make another bid for Everton.
Yet any buyer will need to appease Moshiri, who wants £25m up front plus £2.5m for TEN YEARS to walk away from the Merseyside team —Sun
Online Reporter