Everton takeover: Kieran Maguires names the one 'downside' to Dan Friedkin deal

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has suggested there is one minor downside to the Friedkin Group’s (TFG) Everton takeover.

The American firm, headed by Dan Friedkin, have agreed to purchase Toffees majority owner Farhad Moshiri’s 94.1 per cent stake. TFG pulled out of a purchase in July but revived interest last week and gazumped John Textor, the Crystal Palace co-owner, to a deal.

Everton will be the second major club added to TFG’s portfolio. They have owned AS Roma since August 2020, with the Europa Conference League won under their tenure The Italians have a proud history and an ardent fan base - as they displayed when protesting against the sacking of head coach Daniele de Rossi.

Usually, multi-club models have one chief outfit such as Manchester City in the City Football Group. Maguire, speaking on BBC Radio 4, believes there can be positive ‘synergies’ between Everton and Roma but suggested that big-money signings could lead to one set of supporters believing there is a preference towards the other outfit.

Maguire, a lecturer at the University of Liverpool, said: “The advantage [of multi-club ownership] is that you can get synergies in terms of both revenues and costs. You can have a common culture and style of play across both clubs and it makes it easier to transfer players from one club to another. You could have a single kit manufacturer or sponsor and that would be able to enhance the value of the commercial side of both clubs.

“The downside is that given the seniority of both clubs, the fans might be looking at the other club and if one makes a big signing it’ll be: ‘Does that mean the other club is being shown preference and not us?’ The other issue is the potential for both to end up in European competition. UEFA don’t like that from integrity in sport perspective and it has caused some complications for some existing owners.”