Alisher Usmanov says he could invest more of his billion pound fortune in Everton after severing ties with Arsenal.

Usmanov sold his stake in the London club for £550 million last week. Despite his close links to Everton’s majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri, a spokesman for Usmanov initially indicated he was looking at clubs abroad or overseas should he seek to stay involved in football.

But when asked directly, Usmanov has offered a more hopeful message to the Merseyside club.

“Should there be a proposal or a possibility to invest in them with good potential returns, I would consider the deal,” he said.

“We are friends with Farhad Moshiri. If he needs the support, I am happy to help.”

Usmanov and Moshiri are more than just friends. They are business partners whose working relationship has already financially assisted Everton.

Moshiri decided to invest in Everton in 2016 after a mutual friend of chairman Bill Kenwright, former Arsenal chief executive David Dein, introduced them.

Dein, Moshiri and Usmanov have all operated in the same business circles for a long time, which is why the association with Everton keeps emerging. Usmanov bought his Arsenal stake from Dein in 2007.