Everton are offered takeover lifeline with two US parties exploring buying the club as deal with controversial American firm 777 nears collapse – but they are STILL set to head into administration

Two potential US buyers are exploring a takeover of Everton, following the virtual collapse of Miami investment company 777’s attempts to buy the club.

One of the interested parties is thought to be investment firm MSP Sports Capital, which has lent the club money to fund the new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium and considered investing in Everton last year, before talks collapsed without a deal.

MSP, headed by former agent and baseball franchise owner Jeff Moorad, has investments including a stake in the McLaren Formula One team, and European football clubs Brondby in Denmark, Augsburg of Germany and Estoril in Portugal.

Two Merseyside businessmen, Andy Bell and George Downing, are also thought to be ready to take a stake in the club by waiving the millions owed to them in loans.

But Everton are still facing the prospect of heading into administration – with a nine-point deduction – because buying the club from administrators would mean their considerable debts would be settled by insolvency experts and the deal subsequently struck would be financially more appealing.

Leading Everton financial analyst The Esk said: ‘From a business point of view, any new owner buying the club out of administration would reduce the money they spend on the club and take on a reduced debt.’

It is thought unlikely that administration will come this season because the club has the cash to see things through to the end of the campaign, a week on Sunday. 

Remarkably, the club could actually survive another nine-point penalty this season – on top of the six points docked for overspending – if they beat Sheffield United on Saturday and Luton fail to win at West Ham.

Everton have appealed the second of their points deductions – docking them a further two points – and will know before their last game of the season kicks off at Arsenal whether they have won or lost that legal case. If they go into administration this summer, they will start next season on -9 points.