TOFF TO TAKE
New Everton bidder bizarrely slams Tottenham’s stadium as a ‘banquet hall’ and says ‘I’d stay at Goodison Park forever’
He compared owning Everton to being US President
EVERTON'S potential new owner John Textor has slammed Tottenham's stadium and revealed he would prefer the Toffees stayed at Goodison Park.
The American businessman is confident he can complete a deal to buy the club before November 30.
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Textor, 58, has been handed a period of exclusivity by current chief Farhad Moshiri that ends in eight weeks.
However, the digital entrepreneur must sell his 45 per cent stake in Crystal Palace before he can acquire Everton due to Premier League rules that stop owners running two clubs.
Textor claims there are two serious bidders wanting his share of the Eagles.
Opening up on his aims for Everton, Textor surprisingly told he is not a fan of the club ditching Goodison Park for their stunning new Bramley Moore Dock home.
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With the club set to move to 52,000 capacity ground next summer, he said: "Not for me - I don't like Tottenham. I go into that stadium, and I think it's too nice.
"I remember the first couple of games I went there and the people I was with were in this banquet hall.
"I thought 'this is not football' and I really believe that. It's way too nice a stadium for football.
On Goodison Park, Textor added: "I was thinking 'what a weird stadium, what a weird layout - but what a beautiful stadium'.
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"It's like going to Fenway Park where you have a big pole in front of you. You can't see the field but it's what's beautiful about it.
"For me, I would still be interested in Everton if they were playing on a pitch next to Goodison Park. I would stay at Goodison forever."
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He also revealed he has aspirations to lead Sean Dyche's side to the Premier League title - admitting he needs "serious capital" to do so.
Textor, who has stakes in France's Lyon, Brazil's Botafogo and Belgium's Molenbeek, claims Everton would be the pick of the bunch.
He said: "If you decide football is what you want in your life, and then somebody comes along and asks you if you want to become the owner of Everton, it's like someone asking you if you want to be President of the United States. Of course you do.
"Everton? I never thought about it as it was like looking at the White House and thinking I'm going to live there some day."
Textor is not the first to try to buy the Toffees after two other bids collapsed.
777 Partners had pumped in £200m to keep the club afloat as they risked falling into administration.
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But in June, the Premier League refused to ratify their takeover as chiefs were concerned after backers cut ties with them and the company was hit with legal issues in the US and Europe.
The Friedkin Group then entered the race, only to pull out due to the club's debts to 777 Partners.
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