Financial expert Kieran Maguire has claimed that Everton owner Farhad Moshiri may have held discussions about investment into the club with Qatari businessman Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani after an image emerged.
The pair were pictured together in Qatar attending a World Cup match, and Maguire has claimed that this meeting probably went beyond pleasantries, and investment could have been discussed.
Everton are in the process of building a new stadium at Bramley Dock, with a 52,000-seater ground designed, and would welcome extra funding into the project.
Speaking to Football Insider, Maguire explained the level of discussions they could have had, and what area could be invested in.
“This is interesting, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know when it comes to business deals,” he stated.
“Therefore, Moshiri being pictured with Sheikh Khalid is indicative of the levels with which he networks and the type of discussions that take place.
“These discussions can be innocent or more business-oriented. These could involve either investment in the form of equity or debt or some form of a commercial arrangement between the DarAlSharq Group or other people connected to it.
“This is particularly relevant for Everton with the attraction of Bramley-Moore Dock going forwards.“
TIF thoughts on Everton and Moshiri…
Since Moshiri became Everton’s majority shareholder in 2016, the club have invested significantly into the playing squad, but have seen results on the pitch decline.
Poor signings such as Theo Walcott, Jean Philippe-Gbamin and Davy Klaasen for large fees have not helped, and years of inconsistent manager reigns under the likes of Rafa Benitez and Ronald Koeman have seen the Toffees fall even further behind their rivals in the table.
Although extra investment into the facilities or playing squad would support the club well, under Moshiri the bigger problem was scouting and transfer decisions, rather then the amount of money pumped in, and extra funding from Qatar will only see an improvement if spent well.