Everton fans are celebrating over the prospect of former Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov investing in their club.
The arrival of a three-time Champions League-winning manager in Carlo Ancelotti had already raised hopes in a grand revival for the blue side on Merseyside, especially with a new stadium on the cards.
Farhad Moshiri, a close associate to the Russian billionaire, bought his own stake in the Toffees in February 2016 after selling his own interests in the Gunners.
It is a relationship that has long had some Everton supporters waiting for Usmanov to follow his friend to Merseyside, and the Uzbek-born mining magnate has now signalled his readiness to get involved in an interview with the Financial Times.
"With great pleasure, if he asks I am thinking about my investment," he said of his ties to Moshiri and Everton, especially their project to find a new home beyond Goodison Park.
"They are going to build a new stadium," he added. "Why not the USM Arena? It’s not obligatory for me to participate. I could just sponsor them."
On social media, Everton fans reacted with excitement at the thought of the former Arsenal backer putting his money into their club.
Usmanov is worth a reported £9.71billion according to Forbes, who rank him at 106 in the list of world's richest people.
By comparison, Liverpool owner John Henry comes in at 319 with Roman Abramovich a place behind his fellow Russian at 107.
It will be 33 years since the blue half of Merseyside last lifted the English title come the summer with Ancelotti charged with taking the club back into contention for European football.
The Italian lifted the Premier League with Chelsea in 2010 and has also won trophies in France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
He is also the most successful boss in the history of the Champions League, having claimed the biggest honour in European club football on three occasions, more than any other manager.
In 2005 he could have claimed a fourth only for Rafael Benitez's Liverpool to secure a shock second half comeback to beat Milan in Istanbul.
