Sean Dyche still speaking to Farhad Moshiri as 777 Partners Everton takeover wait goes on

Sean Dyche said he has not held any further talks with prospective new Everton owners 777 Partners in months.

The Blues boss met with key personnel from the US group in the aftermath of the announcement it had signed a deal to purchase the 94.1% stake owned by Farhad Moshiri, the club’s majority shareholder.

777 Partners have retained a presence at Goodison Park over the five months they have been waiting for approval on the takeover bid by the Premier League and other regulatory bodies. Officials have also visited the Finch Farm training complex in that period.

Dyche made clear no formal discussions over club matters had taken place since that introductory meeting, however. He remains in contact with Moshiri, he confirmed.

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Dyche met with 777 chiefs in September, days after the firm’s takeover plan was made public. Co-founder and managing partner Josh Wander, who has regularly attended the club's home games since, and chief executive of the operation’s football portfolio, Don Dransfield, spent time with Dyche and director of football Kevin Thelwell at Finch Farm.

The Blues said at the time: “It’s very casual at this stage. They made it clear to us who were in the meeting that the deal has got a long way to go to get to its finality. Most of it was very casual to be honest. It was just a feel of what I’ve learned in my time here – and others were involved in the chat of course – but on the football side of things, a feel of what I’ve learned here, the challenges ahead and stuff like that but it was a very casual meeting.”

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