Everton Set To Announce £200m Takeover

Everton are closing on a £200million takeover agreement with US businessmen John Jay Moores and Charles Noell as talks have reached such an advanced stage that the deal could be announced before the end of the month.

Moores who is the former owner of San Diego Padres baseball team and Noell have spent the last six weeks carrying out due diligence and holding talks with Everton's majority shareholders, chairman Bill Kenwright, Robert Earl and Jon Woods. Moores and Noell made serious on their interest in December just a month after Everton's general meeting where chief executive Robert Elstone confirmed: “There has never been more people interested in investing in Everton and the Chairman is confident investment will be secured in the near future”

Moores and Noell are understood to have already met manager Roberto Martinez and should the takeover progress they will also evaluate the search for a new stadium with nearby Walton Hall Park identified as one suitable alternative to Goodison Park. 

Everton have so far declined to comment owing to the sensitive nature of ongoing negotiations.