Everton takeover: John Textor making ‘progress’ but ‘work still to be done’, club says

In an extensive interview with Sky, Textor was asked about the challenges involved in completing the deal, pressure from Everton supporters and the club’s new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

Textor is the latest party to take over the Toffees, after talks with both 777 Partners and the Friedkin Group failed this summer.

Through his company Eagle Football Holdings, Textor already has interests in other clubs, including French club Lyon, Brazilian club Botafogo and Belgian club Molenbeek.

“Nobody wakes up and thinks: ‘I can buy Everton’,” he said.

“But if you decide that football is what you want in your life, and then someone comes along and asks you if you want to be the owner of Everton, it’s like someone asking you if you want to be the president of the United States. Of course you want to.

“Let’s face it, the failure of others is the blessing we get to step into – which means anyone can outbid me at any time. I have a qualified period of exclusivity, but exclusivity doesn’t matter if Farhad gets an offer tomorrow that’s much better than mine.

“I wouldn’t force him to make a bad deal with me. The longer this goes on, the more likely it is that some other smart guy will wake up and see this as a great deal, for what it is.

“This seems like the opportunity for us now and we hope to close the deal.”