Former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys reckons Everton owner Farhad Moshiri is "desperate" to sell the club as rumours of a takeover continue to circle.
On Monday evening, the Liverpool ECHO followed up an initial report from The Telegraph that Moshiri was in talks with former Chelsea and Manchester United CEO Peter Kenyon about his majority control of the Blues.
And soon after Keys took to social media to label the British-Iranian "desperate" to cut ties with Everton. But he believes anyone looking to prise the 67-year-old out his stake will have to agree to a long-term commitment to finish off the new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium project - plus a further £500m to seize control of the club.
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Keys tweeted: "Moshiri will want £500m + £500 guaranteed to finish the stadium - just as we said here the best part of a year ago. He’s been desperate to get rid."
It was only last week that Moshiri released an open letter to supporters taking accountability for the club's recent failings, but also reiterating that he is keen to deliver success to Everton.
He said: “Mistakes have been made and for that I want to apologise to all of you. It has not been good enough and we need to do better. You have given us incredible support that helped us over the line when we most needed it, and we must repay that support and show that lessons have been learnt.
“More than any other club in England, Everton is the club of its people, its community and its fans, and always will be.”
He added: “I am committed to securing the future success of the club by delivering a fully funded stadium that will underpin our status as a leading club. Our new stadium project at Bramley-Moore Dock has reached an exciting and landmark stage as it emerges from the ground, with the four main cores now in place.
“Of course, the stadium alone will not help us achieve our objectives and we are committed to not making the same mistakes again including how we have not always spent significant amounts of money wisely.”
