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Goodison Park could hold up to 30,000 fight fans as Tony Bellew's dream world title shot is close to being finalised.

The boyhood Everton fan is due to meet Ilunga Makabu for the WBC cruiserwright title this summer and the Old Lady set to be the venue.

Bellew has confirmed to the ECHO that negotiations between the club, council and Sky Sports are progressing rapidly and that a deal could be struck soon.

Promoters Matchroom have been looking at securing a June 4 slot at Goodison and the seating plan and ring lay-out were discussed in detail at a meeting last week.

Bellew, who thanked Everton chairman Bill Kenwright for his efforts in trying to make it happen, says a lot of money has been invested in securing his world title shot on home soil - but he believes it will be worth it if he lifts the WBC belt at the home of his beloved Blues.

"We are close," he told the ECHO.

"The club wants it to happen, the chairman wants it to happen, the gaffer, the boys, everyone at Everton Football Club want it to happen.

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"They are all striving for the same thing, there a few little obstacles to overcome but I am told the Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, wants it to happen, the council want it to happen. There are a few issues that need ironing out, a few technicalities with the council and a few issues with Sky Sports.

"So besides that, it's a go-er."

"It's not done but it's very close," he added.

"All the people who are needed to want it to happen are making it happen.

"The chairman has been fantastic with me, as always, he's looked after me even from making the film (Creed) - it was the chairman I went to when the movie first came to me, it was his advice I sought and without him I wouldn't have done the movie and wouldn't have progressed the way I have progressed. It wouldn't have opened the doors it has opened."

Bellew predicts that if his Goodison dream is finalised then there will be high demand for tickets.

But he insists this is not just an event for Evertonians to savour but the whole city.

"There is absolutely no excuse for it not to happen now," he added.

(Image: Instagram)

"Everyone wants it to happen it's just a case of it has to make financial sense for everybody, and it does.

"That's what it comes down to.

"I can go to the ECHO Arena and fill that, I've done that on various occasions with 10,000 in there but I want to stick 25-30,000 in Goodison and give them a fight.

"We've had to budget big to get this fight here. Between myself and Eddie (Hearn, promoter), we've put the money up to pay Makabu and we have got to make it work."

Bellew went onto say: "We are looking at between 25-30,000 fans.

"We need it to hit 20,000, which I think it can do. I think we'll do 10,000 in the first few days but it's then how it builds from there."