As WS Gilbert might have it, an Everton fan’s lot is not a happy one. Give or take Paul Rideout’s Wembley winner in 1995, and the teenage rampage of Wayne Rooney during David Moyes’s flinty “People’s Club” era, the gruel has been thinning since Howard Kendall decamped to Bilbao after winning his second league title in 1987. Everton’s problem then, as now, was money. Though, with a new stadium halfway built, cash is currently a far, far bigger problem. Farhad Moshiri has been majority owner and benefactor since 2016, but since his associate, Alisher Usmanov, was sanctioned for close relations with Vladimir Putin, Everton have been looking for further investment – and fast. Sean Dyche, the seventh manager under Moshiri, rescued the club from relegation last season but an underpowered squad has started this season as if another relegation battle will surely ensue.

A plughole Everton have been circling for many seasons beckons more than ever but – at last – Moshiri has located new buyers with top-level football experience. Hurrah! All hail 777 Partners, what with their experience with Genoa, Sevilla, Vasco da Gama, Hertha Berlin, Standard Liège, Red Star in France and Melbourne Victory. Some big names there, sure, what with Sevilla lifting Big Vase on an annual basis, and one of calcio’s oldest institutions. Sifting through that lengthy portfolio, Genoa are back in Serie A, but only after getting relegated for the first time in 15 years two seasons ago. Oh. What of Hertha? Big club. Er, especially in the 2.Bundesliga; they got relegated last season. Red Star, a classic name of French football, play in the third tier. And the Victory finished flamin’ 11th from 12 in the most recent A-League season.

So then, Standard Liège, Belgian football powerhouses, seventh in their Pro League last season. No disaster but what’s this? In early September their fans held demonstrations, calling out 777 with banners declaring “no money, no ambition”. Uncomfortable. Vasco, then, who Football Daily best remembers for Edmundo making a right wally out of Gary Neville during World Tin Pot in 2000? Er, they’re 18th in Brazil’s Série A, with fans raging about a lack of investment. Worrying.

Which leaves Sevilla, who it turns out “Lucky Sevens” (as some Evertonians have taken to calling their potential new overlords) only own a minority stake in. So just who are these Miami-based guys? Their top football suit is Don Dransfield, former chief strategy officer for City Football Group, a similar multi-club setup. Co-founder Joshua Wander made his money in the world of structured settlements, where insurance payments are cashed as a lump sum rather than paid periodically to claimants wanting fast cash instead. Any Toffees celebrating a new owner, any new owner, might wish to see how far 777 Partners stretch the elasticity of the Premier League’s fabled “fit and proper persons” test. Wander also carries a serious federal drug conviction, albeit from 20 years ago. Whatever, those Championship jaws look open.

“Typically in the women’s game, the players don’t want to be spoken to. I don’t have a lot of conversations on the field with women. Men want to chip in about everything” – World Cup final referee Tori Penso gets her chat on with Matthew Hall about a number of topics, including why men just can’t stop flapping their gums wildly during matches.

With both Luis Rubiales’ and Harry Maguire’s mums wading in to international political and sporting debate regarding the criticism and treatment of their sons, I believe we may have identified a gap in the market which ivory tower-dwellers may wish to monetise. I, for one, look forward to hearing more commentary and seeing more outlandish antics from other figures of public derision’s mums. Perhaps we can arrange a tournament. Although I look forward less to Gianni Infantino’s opening remarks of: ‘I am your mum, I am everyone’s mum’ … probably” – Brian James.

Roy Keane’s punditry may well be the only Irish representation at Euro 2024 (yesterday’s Football Daily)? You mean Jack Grealish and Declan Rice won’t be selected?” – Rodney Harrington.

In my too-quick reading of yesterday’s Memory Lane (full email edition), I thought that the four men were part of a ‘fool’s panel’, rather than the pools. That got me thinking about how large a panel might be needed, if that actually were the title for a group of pundits” – George Affeldt.

I think this may help to explain India’s dominance on the world football stage” – John Goodman.

Send your letters to [email protected]. Today’s winner of our prizeless letter o’ the day is … John Goodman. Prizes return from next week, so get scribbling.

A Spanish court has imposed a restraining order on former Spanish football president Luis Rubiales, forbidding him from communicating with, or coming within 200 metres of, Jenni Hermoso, the player he controversially kissed after Spain’s World Cup victory last month.

Meanwhile, new Spain boss Montse Tomé faces a selection headache as she prepares to announce her first squad, for upcoming Nations League matches, after the entire World Cup-winning group confirmed they are still very much on strike.

Spanish police have arrested three unnamed Real Madrid reserves for allegedly distributing a sexual video featuring a minor.

Erik ten Hag says Jadon Sancho’s exclusion from the Manchester United squad is due to the “strict lines” he has put in place since taking over as manager last summer. “The club asked me, because there was no good culture before last season, to set some good standards … that is what I did,” tooted Ten Hag, who seemingly could clearly do with a hand.

The Women’s Big Cup tombola has placed debutants Manchester United in the same group as PSG, Glasgow City and SK Brann.

James Maddison has won the player of the month gong for being the main man at roast dinners in the Premier League during August. And Big Ange scooped the manager of the month award, too, in a rare silverware haul for Spurs.

Callum Wilson has scrawled his name all over a new deal at Newcastle until 2025. “The club’s going in a fantastic direction and on a journey, so it’s nice to commit my future to being a part of that,” he cheered.

Trent Alexander-Arnold will miss Liverpool’s lunchtime trip to Wolves as Liverpool physios continue to massage his pesky hamstring.

And under-pressure Rangers boss Michael Beale has shortened his odds on starring in our next edition’s Quote of the Day, by claiming he is a long-term part of the club’s future. “I don’t need assurances,” he yapped. “I’m part of a plan in terms of where we’re going as a club.”

The Premier League is back, baby! So here are 10 things to look out for this weekend.

Former Manchester City keeper and retiring head of their community team, Alex Williams, talks about playing, tackling racism and his legacy.

Women’s Super League transfer window verdict: how every club fared.

The more Brighton sell their best players, the better they become. Ben McAleer tries to get his head around how the Seagulls keep soaring despite regular raids.

Ryan Lowe has taken Preston to the top of the Championship and will hope to keep them there when he faces his old club Plymouth this weekend, writes Andy Hunter.

The Football Weekly Book is out on 28 September and you can order your copy (with a discount) now, now, now.

There’s a live event on 26 September to mark that launch. More details and tickets are here. And then the pod goes on tour again in November. Several dates are now sold out, but there are still some tickets available elsewhere.

To September 1989, as members of the Little Beauties Under-13s team in Middlesbrough pose for a photograph after winning a contest with Reebok. Their prize? A five-day jaunt to Madrid, where they would visit the Bernabéu. Phil Stamp, Robbie Blake and Paul Norton all went on to play professionally but we’re not sure if any got to visit Real’s stadium again in their careers.