Everton takeover moves step closer after collapse of deal with controversial 777Partners firm with Farhad Moshiri set to grant exclusivity terms to Roma owner Dan Friedkin

Everton owner Farhad Moshiri took a step closer to selling the club on Friday evening as he prepared to grant exclusivity terms to Roma owner Dan Friedkin.

Any deal, subject to Premier League approval, would end months of speculation over the club’s future and comes just two weeks after a proposed takeover by Miami-based private investment firm 777 Partners collapsed.

Friedkin, 59, who is worth £4.9 billion, is chairman of the Texas-based Friedkin Group and has emerged as Moshiri’s preferred choice after extensive talks with four other parties.

It is understood that Friedkin, whose film studio produced the Oscar-nominated ‘Flowers Of The Killer Moon’, has made an all-share offer that appeals to Moshiri, ahead of early front-runners Andy Bell and George Downing, who have loaned Everton £158 million.

The club declined to comment on Friday evening, but the situation is expected to change quickly in the next 24 hours.

Several interested parties had agreed to immediately pay operational costs in their pursuit of exclusive terms with Moshiri to cover player and staff wages and payments to the Bramley Moore Dock Stadium.

The breakthrough comes hours after Everton received a cash injection by signing a club recording contract with Castore worth more than £20 million a year. The kit company will also be founders of the new stadium.

Meanwhile, Manchester United are set to make an improved bid for Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite after their opening offer of £35m plus £8m in add-ons was rejected.

Everton value Branthwaite at almost £75m. Arsenal have also shown interest in Everton midfielder Amadou Onana.