Sean Dyche sends blunt message as Everton edge closer…

Sean Dyche sends blunt message as Everton edge closer to MSP Sports Capital deal

Your morning headlines for Monday, March 6.

'Forget the scoreline' - Sean Dyche sends blunt message to Everton players after Forest draw

Everton's players are taking on the ideas and tactics of their new manager to become more competitive, Sean Dyche believes.

The Blues boss said there were a series of positives he could take from his side's 2-2 draw at Nottingham Forest. As well as scoring two goals for the first time since October, he was pleased with a defensive effort undermined only by a late mistake that allowed Forest to snatch an equaliser.

Dyche acknowledged Everton need points to climb away from trouble but stressed survival is dependent on creating a team that knows how to win and not one that simply hopes for success. He thinks there are visible signs of progress as he works towards that goal.

The Blues deserved the lead they held at half-time after a Demarai Gray penalty and Abdoulaye Doucoure header put them 2-1 up. And while Forest grew stronger as the match went on they only found a leveller after Doucoure gave the ball away while trying to spark another counter attack - from which Everton had consistently threatened during the game. That equaliser prevented Everton from climbing out of the bottom three and dragging Forest closer to the relegation battle.

But despite the disappointment his side missed had out on what would have been just a second away win of the season, Dyche was largely pleased with the 90 minutes he had witnessed. He also thought his team should have earned a second penalty from an incident involving Seamus Coleman and Jack Colback.

Speaking after the game, Dyche said: "I'm very pleased with a lot of the performance. It was a mistake for the second goal in midfield, we didn't need to do that at that stage of the game but that is a continued learning curve of managing the game and working from your shape even when you are attacking. But there were a lot of good things today.

Read the full story, here.

Everton edge closer to MSP Sports Capital deal as Bahrain meeting explained

New York-based investment fund MSP Sports Capital is edging closer to a minority stake in Everton, according to sources familiar with the matter.

MSP have been in discussions with Everton over acquiring a stake in the club for several weeks with billionaire co-founders Jahm Najafi and Jeff Moorad, along with vice president Peter Taylor, in attendance for the home defeat against Southampton back in January.

A renowned sports investment firm with stakes in the McLaren Formula One team, extreme sports competition 'X Games', and football investments in football clubs including German side FC Augsburg, G.D. Estoril Praia in Portugal, Spain’s AD Alcorcon and Belgian side SK Beveren, MSP had been, according to the Financial Times, been lining up a £3.1bn takeover move for Tottenham Hotspur last month.

That deal was reported to be led by Najafi, who has remained a part owner of the Phoenix Suns NBA team despite their $4bn sale recently, with support of MSP and other parties, including investors from Abu Dhabi.

US financial sources told the ECHO that the focus has remained on Everton throughout the process and that a move for Spurs was one that was not on the agenda, with MSP seeing greater value in a minority stake in Everton and aiding both the recapitalisation of the business and helping with funding for the remainder of the stadium build, something they are understood to see great value in moving forward.

Read the full story, here.

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