Four key areas for Everton's new owners to address

Manager Sean Dyche was appointed in January 2023 following the sacking of Frank Lampard with the remit of maintaining the club's ever-present record in the Premier League.

Survival was pulled off by the skin of their teeth courtesy of Abdoulaye Doucoure's second-half winner against Bournemouth on the final day of that season, finishing one place and two points above the drop zone.

The 53-year-old ex-Burnley boss was rightly given plaudits for last season's achievements when the team were deducted eight points and he steered them to 15th place, a comfortable 14 points above the relegation zone after a strong finish.

Everton may have been expected to push on this term but instead find themselves in another scrap to stay up, currently in 16th place, just three points above the bottom three, with fans growing tired of the style of football which is seen as being insipid and one-dimensional. Only bottom club Southampton have scored fewer than the Toffees' 14 Premier League goals.

Dyche is out of contract at the end of the season, so the Friedkin Group needs to decide whether it offers him new terms or appoints someone new.

At Roma, it has demonstrated it is not shy of making managerial changes.

The group is on its fourth manager in 2024 following the sackings of the popular Jose Mourinho and ex-captain De Rossi, with his replacement Ivan Juric lasting only 12 games before veteran Claudio Ranieri was called out of retirement.

Lack of finances and an inability to help an ongoing injury crisis has also left Everton in a precarious position in the Women's Super League for the past two seasons.

But the takeover could spark a rebuild as manager Brian Sorensen hopes to add depth to his squad in the January transfer window.

Sources close to Everton say the club have a list of targets they hope to act upon with the takeover complete.

Among them is a potential £100,000 bid for Arsenal midfielder Kathrine Kuhl, who enjoyed a successful loan spell at Everton between January and May 2024.

Players and staff are expected to meet with representatives from the Friedkin Group to discuss ambitions for the women's team.

There are already plans for both the men's and the women's first teams to visit the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock in the new year.

Occasional WSL matches are also expected to be held there once the move is complete, as has happened at Goodison Park.