Everton have been told it will cost in the region of £30m to acquire land for a new stadium on the banks of the river Mersey.
Everton’s major shareholder, Farhad Moshiri, and chairman, Bill Kenwright, are in negotiations with the Peel Group, owners of the dockland site in north Liverpool, as they consider two brownfield options for relocating from Goodison Park.
Joe Anderson, the mayor of Liverpool who is closely involved in discussions with Everton, said on Friday that an announcement on the club’s move could be made “in a couple of months”. However, the preferred option of a new stadium on Liverpool’s waterfront is dependent on Everton meeting or renegotiating the Peel Group’s £30m asking price for the land.
Anderson refused to comment on the price but said: “Things are really positive. No option is ruled out but everyone knows my preferred option. Everyone knows the club’s preferred option. There are discussions taking place and we’re at the heart of that trying to move things on.
“Really, given where we were 12 months ago, we are in a much different and healthier position. The obstacle with all these things is an agreement must be reached. We did that with Anfield. We had challenges, had to buy properties and move people on. It’s about negotiation and making significant concessions.”
Peel secured planning permission for an ambitious £5.5bn redevelopment project for the north Liverpool docks in 2012 – with no stadium involved – but the area remains derelict. The site would require significant enabling works before the construction of a new stadium could take place, unlike Everton’s second option in Croxteth, where the land at Stonebridge Cross is ready for development.
Anderson was speaking at the official opening of Liverpool’s new £114m main stand, part of an overall £260m regeneration project in the Anfield area. Liverpool city council worked closely with Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool’s owner, on resolving the long-running saga of the Anfield stadium and Anderson insists it is imperative to do likewise with Everton.
The mayor added: “Both clubs are crucially important to the city. As in London and Manchester they bring an economic development in terms of jobs, visitors and tourism. Everton, in terms of the partnership we’ve got, is as strong as ever. I am really positive we will be able to announce in a couple of months what we are doing with the club. I am confident there will be something for Evertonians – a new stadium as good as this.”