Thaksin Shinawatra has spent the last few weeks trying to tie-up a deal with Everton’s arch-rivals Liverpool – offering £65m for a 30 percent stake in the club.
But since he was forced to withdraw a planned lottery to finance the bid, a cloud has appeared over the talks.
Although the two sides are believed to have agreed in principle to a deal and finalised payment details, there continues to be concerns that the deal may fall through.
Reports over the weekend suggested Thaksin and his team of investors were looking across Merseyside to Everton.
The speculation was fuelled after Everton secured a three-year shirt sponsorship deal with Thailand’s Chang Beer – worth an estimated U$1m a-year.
Chang Beer is brewed by Thai Beverages – which is owned by Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, one of the figures believed to be in Thaksin’s investment group.
Everton director Paul Gregg had been in Bangkok for talks over the sponsorship, with some media hinting he had been in talks about buying into the club too.
Said an Everton spokesman: “Paul has not been speaking to the Thai government.”
