Crystal Palace: John Textor willing to sell shares for Europa League football

Palace are not part of Eagle Football’s multi-club organisation and have not signed a player from any of those clubs, although Jake O’Brien, now at Everton, did move to Lyon from their academy.

With the club’s increase in stature and development of talent such as Eberechi Eze, along with their FA Cup success, it is understood the American would be looking for a lot more return on his original investment.

Textor has tried to purchase a controlling stake in Palace in the past as it is thought he would prefer to have overall control of the club.

However, he has more recently tried to buy Everton and also sought a buyer for his Palace shares.

In an interview with the BBC last year, he said he does not run Palace – chairman and co-owner Parish does – although he can share his views.

He also conceded the pair disagree on their views over multi-club ownership.

It is understood Textor believes in respect of the football department, and he is not entitled to a vote on footballing decisions.

He did, though, play a part in bringing in current manager Oliver Glasner last year.

That lack of overall control has meant Textor’s position has now moved from wanting to buy Palace to telling the partners he would make his shares available – and sell at under 25% of their market value if it meant the difference between Palace playing in Europe or not.

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis recently diluted his control at the club by placing his shares in a blind trust, when it looked like both Forest and Olympiakos – another club the Greek businessman owned – may both qualify for the Champions League.

But sources close to Eagle Football believe putting those Palace shares in a ‘blind trust’ is not an option as Textor and Eagle Football do not have decisive influence over the Selhurst Park outfit.

Crystal Palace and Uefa were both approached for comment.