Alisher Usmanov has said he will consider investing in Everton after agreeing to sell his stake in Arsenal to Stan Kroenke.
The Uzbek-born Russian billionaire agreed to end his 11-year investment in Arsenal earlier this month when Stan Kroenke offered him £600m for his 30 per cent stake, valuing the Gunners at £1.8bn.
Usmanov has pre-existing ties with Everton, who are majority owned by his one-time business partner Farhad Moshiri. Both had stakes in Red and White Holdings before the latter left to take over at Goodison Park.
USM Holdings, one of Usmanov’s firms, also sponsors Everton’s Finch Farm training ground to a value believed to be £75m and the 64-year-old, valued at £11.8billion by Forbes, has refused to rule out further investment.
“We are friends with Farhad Moshiri,” he told Bloomberg. “If he needs the support, I am happy to help.”
Usmanov, who had seen a £1bn takeover bid for Kroenke's stake rejected before he opted to cash in on his shares, added that he may also choose to invest in other clubs: “Should there be a proposal or a possibility to invest in them with good potential returns, I would consider the deal.”
