Everton enter exclusivity agreement with US investment group MSP Sports Capital

It is understood that, while a deal over funding is yet to be concluded, talks between New York-based MSP and the Toffees - who had also been speaking to 777 Partners - are progressing well.

Seventeenth in the table after the weekend's action, Everton play Bournemouth at Goodison Park next Sunday as the battle for Premier League survival goes down to the final game of the season for Sean Dyche's men.

The Merseyside outfit's new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock is currently under construction at a cost of £760million.

Figures from MSP were present at Goodison when Everton lost 2-1 to Southampton in January.

MSP and 777 Partners, another American company, were then understood to be parties being spoken to after Everton owner Farhad Moshiri said later that month he was in talks with "top investors of real quality to bridge a gap on the stadium".