Everton linked with £200m takeover by US consortium

John Jay Moores and Charles Noell head group who have period of exclusivity until the end of January to look at finances

Everton's current home is Goodison Park (Getty)

A group of American investors are hoping to buy Everton within six weeks, according to reports.

The Times report that the group, led by businessmen John Jay Moores and Charles Noell and partners from both sides of the Atlantic, have signed a Head of Terms agreement worth around £200million and are currently performing due diligence on the club's accounts.

Current chairman Bill Kenwright has granted the group a period of exclusivity to examine the books at the club - that will end at the end of January when a decision will be made on whether to pursue their interest.

Moores and Noell had been linked to a similar deal with Swansea City, holding talks with chairman Huw Jenkins and the supporters' trust, but talks fell through in February with doubts over fans accepting foreign investment.

Kenwright has been talking to investors for years, but no proposal has ever made it as far as this one.

Both Moores and Noell made their money in technology, Moores as founder of BMC Software and then venture capital firm JMI Equity. Noell helped to co-found that comoany in 1991.

Moores is also a former owner of the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball, buying 80 per cent of the club from current Liverpool chairman Tom Werner for around $80m in 1994. After winning a World Series, four division titles and moving the team to a new stadium he sold for $800m in 2012.

His current net worth is not known, although it is believed to be close to $1billion. Moores is also a generous philanthropist and made a $51m donation to his former University, Houston, the largets in US history to a public school.

Less is known of Noell's wealth, although he too has previously been referred to as a billionaire - he bought a 120-acre, 15-bedroom Irish country estate named Adrbraccan in County Govan for around £5m in 2013.