Everton ‘could be forced to sell their top stars in January’ if takeover from prospective owners 777 Partners is blocked

• The Toffees may be forced into selling their top players if the takeover is blocked
• It comes as Mail Sport revealed  top-flight owners’ concerns over £500m deal 
• Mail Sport’s new WhatsApp Channel: Get the breaking news and exclusives here 

Everton could be forced into selling their big-name players – such as Jordan Pickford and Amadou Onana – if the takeover from 777 Partners is not successful, according to reports.

With owner Farhad Moshiri unwilling to inject any more money, Everton are relying on loans from 777 and MSP Sports Capital to meet their monthly running costs.

However, sources close to the takeover deal believe the loan won’t be enough to cover the club’s losses to the end of the year.

Everton’s financial situation, mainly brought about by rising construction costs for their Bramley-Moore Dock stadium, means further funds will be required.

There is also a £200m shortfall on the cost of the stadium construction. Interest payments on the debt is understood to be approximately £30m a year. 

Farhad Moshiri is looking to sell his 94.1 per cent controlling stake in Everton to 777 Partners

Everton’s prospective owners 777 Partners, led by Josh Wander, have loaned the club £20m

Jordan Pickford (L) and Amadou Onana (R) could be sold to free up funds for Everton

With all of this considered, reports now claim that the mounting financial issues could cause serious concern for the Toffees.

According to The Mirror, there are doubts that 777 Partners will pass the examination from the regulatory boards.

If they were to be left without the takeover or any added investment by January, the club could then be forced to sell some of their big stars to keep themselves afloat. 

The likes of Pickford, Onana and Dominic Calvert-Lewin could all potentially leave the club in that scenario, according to the outlet.

Earlier this year Everton returned a loss for the fifth successive year, the £44.7m deficit for 2020-21 taking their cumulative losses to more than £430m over the period.

The Premier League, Football Association and the Financial Conduct Authority are considering 777 Partners’ bid and paperwork has already gone to the regulators.

But a decision is not likely until the new year and until then, Everton will require millions to cover short-term working capital requirements and the stadium build.

The Toffees could require more funds amid rising costs of their Bramley-Moore Dock stadium

Everton manager, Sean Dyche is set to benefit from 777 Partners’ protracted attempts to buy Everton as the club are unlikely to have the funds to sack their manager until a takeover is completed. 

Dyche is protected by a clause in his contract entitling him to be paid until the end of the season if he is dismissed, which would cost the club around £4m. 

777 are believed to be admirers of Dyche, while it is unclear whether there is anyone at Goodison Park with the authority to fire him while the proposed takeover is pending. 

Everton won their first league game of the season on Saturday, beating Brentford 3-1 at the Gtech Community Stadium courtesy of goals from Abdoulaye Doucoure, James Tarkowski and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. 

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