Everton have reached an agreement in principle with The Friedkin Group for a takeover of the Premier League club, according to reports.
The group’s chairman Dan Friedkin has an estimated net worth of £4.81billion and has owned Roma since 2020, when he paid £552million for the Serie A side.
Friedkin is said to have been in talks with Everton’s current owner Farhad Moshiri with a view to buying his 94 per cent stake and is expected to be given a period of exclusivity.
The proposed takeover by troubled US investment group 777 Partners fell through last month but Moshiri could not look at other options until June 1 for exclusivity reasons.
Reports state that The Friedkin Group have been preferred ahead of a number of rival bids. Everton declined to comment on the takeover when contacted by the PA news agency.
Everton finished 15th in the Premier League last season despite being docked eight points for breaches of profit and sustainability rules.
The club are due to move to their new ground at Bramley-Moore Dock for the 2025-26 season with work scheduled to finish on the stadium in December.
