Everton coach David Moyes said on Friday that he was surprised by the decision of the Friedkin Group, which owns it, to consider selling a controlling stake in the club competing in the English Premier League, less than two years after the American group acquired the club.
The Friedkin Group announced earlier, Friday, that it is open to selling a controlling stake as part of its efforts to attract new investments, less than two years after it acquired Everton from the previous owner, Farhad Moshiri, in December 2024.
“I really believed that with the new owners we were fully committed to this project,” Moyes told reporters before Everton’s match against Hull City in the English Premier League on Sunday.
He added: “My ambition upon my return was to try to return Everton to the position it was in the past, which means repeatedly competing to qualify for the European Championships.”
He continued: “But it was a difficult summer for us. I didn't find out about it until this morning. "Maybe I'm a little surprised, but maybe I shouldn't be that surprised."
Everton ranks seventh in the English Premier League after five matches.
Friedkin's group took over the management of a club that was suffering from financial pressures and a long period of instability on and off the field, and has since overseen the team's move to Hill Dickinson Stadium, and has also worked to improve its financial conditions.
The group said in a statement: “When the Friedkin Group took over Everton, the club was facing a great deal of financial uncertainty and complex challenges on and off the field.”
She added that her priority at that stage was to provide the stability, investment and support necessary to ensure the club’s future, including completing the new stadium project.
She continued: “With these foundations firmly established, it is time to look to the next chapter in Everton’s journey.”
The group confirmed that it will only consider offers submitted by parties that it believes are capable of building on the progress achieved since its acquisition of the club, indicating that it will continue to support Everton on and off the field throughout the sale process.
This trend comes after a summer transfer period that sparked criticism from some fans, according to British media reports, after the club achieved significant revenues from selling a number of players, while it was content to include a limited number of deals before the transfer market closed.
The Friedkin Group, which also owns the Italian club Roma and French club Cannes, explained that it had hired the investment bank Moelis & Company to provide advice on the process of selling the controlling stake.
The group and the club added that they would not make any additional comments until the ongoing procedures are completed.
The absence of Benjamin Sisco, Patrick Dorgo and Moroccan international Noussair Mazraoui from Manchester United was confirmed as coach Michael Carrick seeks to continue his team's start in the league when it faces Tottenham, who have not achieved any victory so far in the English Premier League.
The British news agency (PA Media) reported that Manchester United enters the next round in twelfth place in the English Premier League standings, after drawing 1-1 with Fulham before the international break, which saw Cisco, Marcus Rashford, Kobe Maino and Karl Darlow withdraw from their teams.
Dorgo and Mazraoui, who were suffering from physical problems, returned to the team, while Amad Diallo, Carlos Baleba and Matthijs de Ligt will continue to work on regaining their fitness at the team’s training center in Carrington.
"It's been a long time since we last sat here," United coach Carrick said. "Things were a bit mixed during the international break."
He added: “Patrick left the field and it appears that he will likely be absent for several weeks. Nassir Mazraoui also left after suffering a bruise. He is not ready yet, and we will see how his condition develops.
He continued: “Carlos’ condition is improving. He has trained a lot, while Amad, Marcos and Kobe have undergone some training. “The situation is a little different between them.”
Carrick concluded his statements by saying: “Cisco is still far from being ready due to the problem he is suffering from, and he will not be ready to participate.”
Spanish coach Xabi Alonso, Chelsea coach, defended Cole Palmer's commitment to the English national football team, known as the "Three Lions", after German coach Thomas Tuchel said that the London club striker missed many opportunities to represent his country's national team.
Palmer had withdrawn from England's squad for the recent Nations League matches against Spain, Croatia and the Czech Republic due to injury.
This was not the first time that Palmer apologized for not joining the national team since Tuchel took over as coach of the Three Lions.
Tuchel seemed annoyed with Palmer, whose exclusion from England's World Cup squad earlier this year sparked widespread controversy. He said: "I can only judge him by what he offers with the national team, but he misses too many opportunities."
Alonso was quick to defend Palmer, who is considered one of the key players in Chelsea, after scoring four goals in seven matches this season so far.
When asked on Friday whether the 24-year-old player was fully committed to the national team, Alonso told reporters: “He is committed, but he needs to be fully physically ready to play.”
He added: “When he is fully fit, he will enjoy the minutes he gets, and we need him in that state with the club and the national team.”
Palmer is expected to participate when Chelsea returns to the league competitions by facing Bournemouth at home, on Saturday.
“He trained last week and felt better,” Alonso said. We didn't want to rush, because we had plenty of time. But the most important thing for Cole is to be in his best physical condition, to enjoy his game, and to feel fine.”
He continued: “When he was not like that, as happened in the Brentford match, you could see that he was suffering. “For the next stage (of the season), we have a good feeling about him.”
Alonso needs Palmer at his best more than Tuchel needs him, after Chelsea's results declined before the international break.
The Blues are in tenth place after failing to achieve any wins during their last three league matches, with two losses to Arsenal and Brentford and a draw with Hull City.
“We need to keep improving,” Alonso said. This is part of the process. “We learn new things, but we have to make sure we don’t make the same mistakes again.”
