Everton’s proposed sale to 777 Partners has suffered another potential setback with three of their rivals informing the American investment firm that they intend to sue the club for £300million if they are found guilty of breaching spending rules later this month.
Mail Sport has learned that Burnley, Leeds and Leicester have written a joint letter to 777 asking them if they are aware of their plans to sue Everton pending the outcome of a Premier League independent tribunal on 25 October.
The trio’s letter to 777 was initially addressed to the Premier League, who are understood to have replied acknowledging the correspondence.
The three clubs are unhappy that Everton’s charges were not dealt with last season as they believe the delay may have helped Everton escape relegation by avoiding a points deduction, with Leeds and Leicester going down on the last day of the season as Sean Dyche’s side survived by two points.
Mail Sport revealed before the end of last season that five clubs (also including Southampton and Nottingham Forest) had written to the Premier League arguing that they would deserve compensation if Everton were found guilty, and the matter has now been escalated ahead of the independent hearing.
Burnley, Leeds and Leicester have formally written to the Premier League notifying them of their intention to sue, with the clubs understood to be ready to claim £100million each based on the loss of top-flight income for one season.
Burnley were relegated from the Premier League the previous season when Everton’s spending also attracted complaints after they recorded three-year rolling losses of £372m, although the club avoided being charged due to being permitted allowances attributed to Covid.
Forest and Southampton are understood to have withdrawn from the anti-Everton alliance, as the former stayed in the Premier League whilst the latter finished 11 points behind fourth-bottom Everton so would not have survived even if the Goodison Park club had been docked points.
Everton were charged by the Premier League in March after publishing updated accounts for last season, showing a £313.5m loss for the previous three years.
Profit and Sustainability rules prohibit clubs losing more than £105m over a three-year period, although spending on infrastructure, women’s football and community projects are deducted from the calculations.
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