The co-founders of 777 Partners, the incumbent owners of Everton, have reportedly received approval from the Football Association to become the club's directors, pending confirmation of the takeover.
Josh Wander and Steve Pasko are the firm's figureheads who have been front and centre, leading 777's process of buying Everton.
The investment firm agreed to purchase the Premier League club from current owner Farhad Moshiri in September, with the deal believed to be in the region of £500m.
However, official confirmation awaits, as background checks are still in process from both the Premier League and the Financial Conduct Authority.
The Times has revealed though, that Wander and Pasko have been given the all-clear by the FA to join the board if the takeover goes ahead.
There are still some doubts about the source of 777's funding, but the firm have staunchly denied any possibility that the deal could fall through.
Despite those concerns, The Telegraph claim that the prospective owners now believe that it is a clear indicator that they will be cleared to take the club over too, with that set to be finalised early next year.
By that stage, Everton should know their fate in terms of a potential points deduction, which the Premier League are said to be keen on imposing on the Toffees over breaches of profitability and sustainability rules.
With the takeover believed to be performance-based, that could have an impact on the overall sum that 777 end up paying for the club, especially if they are relegated.
Everton are showing promising signs on the pitch though, and have now lost just two of their last eight games, following a draw with Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
Wander was present at Goodison alongside Moshiri for Everton's EFL Cup win over Burnley on Wednesday night.
That was the first time that Moshiri had been present at an Everton home match in two years, as the occasion was used to pay respects to the late Everton chairman Bill Kenwright.
Andrew Delaney
