Prospective Everton owners 777 Partners could reportedly acquire the club for a lower fee if the club are deducted points by the Premier League.
The hearing regarding the matter, which focuses on alleged breaches of profitability and sustainability rules, has ended in the past few days, and Everton now await the decision.
777 agreed a £500m deal with Everton owner Farhad Moshiri in September, and the firm have been supplying loans to the club in order for them to cover their running costs recently.
Josh Wander, one of the figureheads behind 777, was present alongside Moshiri at the London Stadium, where Everton beat West Ham United on Sunday.
The takeover itself is still awaiting approval from both the Premier League and the Financial Conduct Authority, but concerns have been raised recently about the source of 777's funding.
Despite the £500m being agreed though, The Times claims that the US-based firm could still pay under that valuation, depending on the outcome of the hearing.
The report states that all potential repercussions have been factored into the £500m offer, and that the fee could still fluctuate.
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According to the report, the takeover is performance-related, so the outcome will affect the final price paid for the club by the firm.
Therefore, should Everton be deducted points and be subsequently relegated from the top flight, then 777 will pay a reduced fee for the club, given the loss in revenue that would come with that.
777 have been made aware that a points deduction is a possibility, as well as hefty fines and a potential transfer embargo, if Everton are found guilty.
The Premier League are said to be pushing hard for a 12-point penalty to be handed out as Everton went three times over the permitted losses allowed within the league's remit in a three-year period between 2019 and 2022 - with the years affected by Covid counting as one.
Everton have not made any official comment on the potential punishments which have been leaked or the possibility of the takeover price coming down.
The club are still mourning the loss of club chairman Bill Kenwright, after his death at the age of 78 last week.
Andrew Delaney
