Although the current owner, Friedkin Group, has only owned Everton for two years, the club is now surrounded by speculation about a potential sale. Against this backdrop, The Athletic has published a column exploring the story behind Everton's sale. Below is the complete translation of that column.

Stability, security, a clear future... when we have these things, everything truly feels good.

Everton fans woke up today to exclusive news from David Ornstein: The Friedkin Group (TFG), which acquired the club less than two years ago, is now reportedly open to selling it.

The Athletic previously reported last month that TFG was seeking new investment for the club, but today's statement will lead many to suspect that the owners want to completely exit, not merely inject additional capital.

They could have chosen to stay silent, quietly seeking funding or exploring acquisition interest behind the scenes. Instead, their current approach is similar to hanging a "For Sale" sign outside Goodison Park.

Everton fans have long suspected that their team ranks below AS Roma in TFG's multi-club portfolio. The group is also planning to establish an NHL team in Houston, a potential deal worth approximately $3.5 billion (£2.6 billion).

Perhaps TFG has realized that the cost of owning a Premier League club is higher than their initial estimates. Or perhaps Goodison Park—despite all its considerable advantages—has proven a more winding path to profitability than anticipated, exceeding what the owners are willing to accept.

If TFG didn't realize this when they acquired Everton less than two years ago, they should have known they were taking over a historic club whose fans, after years of mediocrity, desperately craved progress. These fans believe that when it comes to ambitious and capable owners, actions speak louder than words.

The collective wounds left by Farhad Moshiri's era at Everton still sting the fanbase—a period when the club was pushed to the brink of ruin.

Precisely for this reason, they were willing to trust this new American owner, at least for a while. And TFG did appear responsible, dedicated, and forward-thinking at that time. They quickly guided Everton back onto a more stable path, refinancing much of the club's high-interest debt and securing a low-interest loan using the new stadium as collateral.

After the chaotic and anxious days under Moshiri—and fears that the club might fall into the hands of buyers like 777 Partners (which later filed for bankruptcy amid fraud allegations)—TFG's arrival brought a sense of relief.

This development will certainly raise questions and disappointment, but Everton fans can at least be grateful to TFG for the work they did in their first year.

However, recently, following what can only be described as a disastrous summer transfer window, the atmosphere inside and outside the team has been very different. It was the fans who had to speak up loudly to force the club to make a complete change, after the sale of Jarrad Branthwaite, one of their brightest young talents, to Manchester United for £70 million—a deal that made no sense whatsoever for a group of owners supposedly dedicated to progress and success.

By the close of the transfer window, TFG had sold players worth a total of £100 million, recording profits of approximately £25 million over the summer.

Right-back Maitland-Niles was the only deadline-day signing, joining from Lyon; meanwhile, a £45 million bid for Monaco's Dominic Solanke fell through in the final moments, with the striker ultimately withdrawing from the deal.

Pursuing Solanke only in the final stages of the transfer window was risky, and the failed deal has left David Moyes's team severely short of attacking options. With only one recognized striker available until at least January next year, it's difficult to be optimistic—especially after the team's dismal performance last season, which culminated in a disappointing failure to qualify for European competition.

Fans can surely assume that even if TFG hadn't already checked out at that point, they wouldn't have spent lavishly to recruit a top striker for the team in January.

Instead, these fans must face new uncertainty: "What's next?" Will TFG be cautious and wise in seeking a replacement? Or will they accept the first offer that guarantees profit, then turn their attention to Houston and Roma, letting this brief Premier League experience be quickly forgotten?

Perhaps, in any case, we should treat the word "leaving" as metaphorical, because owner Dan Friedkin has never attended a single match at Goodison Park, nor has he ever spoken with Moyes—as the Scottish manager told reporters in a private session during a press conference last month. Moyes stated at today's pre-match press conference that he was "surprised" to see the morning statement, saying he learned the news "like everyone else."

"I suppose we all thought they would be here for 20, 30 years, or more," Moyes said.

At the very least, the formation of an independent football regulator should be able to prevent unsuitable buyers. And who knows—perhaps the influence of Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester and an Everton season-ticket holder, could also help?

But for fans who have lived through the painful era of PSR (Profit and Sustainability Rules), point deductions, and ownership crises, more doubt will surely deepen the psychological wounds that have only recently begun to heal and are still raw.

"I'm even more disappointed for Everton fans, because they've been through so much difficulty, really so much," Moyes said today. "I suppose the last thing they want to hear is this news… I'm even more disappointed for Everton fans that they're going through another period of uncertainty about who the new owner might be."

With significant financial resources, a calm demeanor, and genuine ambition, the Friedkin family once felt like Everton's saviors. Yet, though it proved too good to be true, in an era when being a Premier League owner seems increasingly difficult—even for the world's wealthiest 1%—what are the chances that The Toffees will find the right buyer?

For this Merseyside club, as always, there are many questions, but far too few answers.

Diterjemahkan oleh AI.

Situs web AF kini hadir! Lihat berita lengkap, komentar, detail pertandingan, dan statistik di komputer Anda. Kunjungi: www.allfootballapp.com