An Uzbek-Russian oligarch has handed Everton a new potential crisis after taking legal action against the club's owner Farhad Moshiri, according to reports.
Making matters more complicated is the fact that Uzbek-Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov's company USM Holdings was once an Everton sponsor for £12m per year and have purchased naming rights on the club's new stadium.
Moshiri previously made much of his wealth serving as the CEO of a group of Usmanov's organisations across the globe and is now facing a lawsuit from his former boss, as reported by The Athletic.
The situation comes amidst the backdrop of multiple ongoing background issues over Everton's so-far failed takeover bid, the club's new stadium build and the issue that Usmanov has close ties with Russian president Vladimir Putin.
His relationship with the Russian president previously saw USM sanctioned by the United States, European Union, and United Kingdom in the wake of Putin's ongoing invasion in Ukraine.
Everton have endured a dismal start to the new Premier League season by losing all three opening games
Usmanov is now launching legal action against Moshiri's Cypriot-registered company Somelior Holdings Limited with documents submitted at Moscow's Arbitration Court in September 2023.
A behind-closed-doors hearing is now set to reportedly take place and is being aired out of the public eye due to 'the presence of trade secrets in the documents to be examined', which had 'been established by the court'.
Meanwhile, Moshiri remains keen to sell Everton and bidders for the historic Premier League club are aware of the legal complaint that has sparked some nerves amongst potential buyers.
The exact outcome of the legal action is yet to be fully discovered, but Moshiri could be made to pay damages that would further complicate things given the imposed financial sanctions.
Everton previously looked set to be purchased by American investment group 777 Partners. However, the deal later broke down due to issues uncovered by the Premier League's approval tests.
The Toffees have endured a dismal start to the new Premier League season, sitting bottom of the table after three games where they have been beaten by every opponent.
Everton are playing their final season at Goodison Park before moving to their new Bramley Moore Dock campus that could be debuted in the Championship if the Toffees are relegated.