Tottenham takeover news - MSP chance, Sheikh Jassim interest, Man Utd impact

Tottenham takeover news as Daniel Levy could consider a sale of the club with Manchester United and Everton's latest issues creating a gap in the market for potential buyers and an impact on transfers being had

Takeover talk continues to swirl at Tottenham Hotspur with the north London club an attractive proposition for investors, especially after a strong start to the season under new manager Ange Postecoglou.

Spurs have been the subject of speculation since the turn of the year, when reports emerged of a meeting between the club's chairman Daniel Levy and the president of Paris Saint-Germain, Nasser Al-Khelaifi. Al-Khelaifi is the chairman of PSG's owners, Qatar Sports Investments, which has made waves at the Parc de Princes with its 'Galactico' transfer policy having brought in Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in recent years.

777 Partners, an American investment firm, are now in advanced talks to take over Everton, reports suggest, after a previous deal with MSP Sports Capital collapsed.

Everton's Farhad Moshiri is set to sell the club, Bloomberg write, and the deal is now said to be at an advanced stage. New York-based MSP had been close to reaching an agreement to plunge external investment into the Toffees with £150million of funding and a further £100million towards the new stadium and other areas of the club.

However, the Liverpool ECHO write that 'owing to objections from existing lender Rights and Media Funding Limited to various aspects of the deal' the plans were abandoned, although the loan deal is intact.

After the MSP deal ended talks were resumed with 777 Partners. They have been adding to their multi-club portfolio since being founded in 2015 with Standard Liege, Red Star FC, Hertha Berlin, Genoa, Vasco da Gama and Melbourne Victory all forming part of their football empire.

Earlier this year it was said that MSP were ready to approach Tottenham with an offer to fund 70% of a huge offer for the club and that Joe Lewis and Daniel Levy were expecting a bid at the time.

Spurs may be an option is Sheikh Jassim, who is said to have had five bids for Manchester United up to this point, fails in his bid to take control at Old Trafford.

Suggestions have been made that United are no longer on the market with a lack of commitment leading to a sale collapsing. It is instead written that the Glazers will look to sell again in 2025 when 'environment factors' could create a bigger market for the club.

Although speculative, this does open up the chance of any prospective owners turning their attentions back to Spurs.

According to ESPN journalist Mark Ogden, Sheikh Jassim and his entourage have earmarked Spurs as a potential option.

"He said, look, if you've got Manchester City owned by Abu Dhabi, you've got Newcastle owned by Saudi Arabia, if Qataris maybe buy Tottenham, then you've got three clubs who can pull away.

Manchester United's potential takeover will not have an impact on the transfer activity of Tottenham, the Express report. As Spurs and United prepare to compete in the market for Brighton striker Evan Ferguson, someone who is valued at a suggested £115million, the uncertainty at Old Trafford had been thought to play into Tottenham's hands.

Ferguson recently signed a new long-term deal at Brigthon but is already on the radar of some of England's biggest clubs as Tottenham look to replace Harry Kane. Spurs, who spent big in the summer window to sign Brennan Johnson and James Maddison in particular, will not have an advantage when it comes to Ferguson, though.

United themselves went big to buy Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund, seemingly uneffected by the continued drama surrounding the Glazer family and what has been a protracted process during talks over a sale to Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim or Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Unfortunately for Spurs ,it doesn't look like they will be able to use this to their advantage.

Tottenham are not in a position to sell the club currently, football finance expert Kieran Maguire has explained. "Spurs are not officially up for sale but in the world of football finance, never say never," he told Football Insider last month.

It comes after ENIC Group owner Joe Lewis, who's family trust has the majority share in Tottenham, was indicted over his alleged role in 'brazen insider trading schemes' in America.

Lewis pleaded not guilty to 19 counts of insider trading and conspiracy in July 2023 and is set to be back in court next year. The ownership of ENIC was passed to the Lewis Family Discretionary Trust last year and Lewis himself is not a beneficiary.

Tottenham have said that that the indictement is a 'legal matter unconnected with the club.'

Shock claims have emerged regarding a potential bid for Spurs by the rapper Jay-Z. The New York native, famous for his hits including 'H to the Izzo' and '99 Problems' is backed by US investors, according to the Express.

Jay-Z, who himself has a net worth of around £2billion, has dabbled in sports having previously held a share in the Brooklyn Nets basketball team while his Roc Nation empire had Manchester United star Marcus Rashford on its books. It is being claimed Jay-Z and his group are waiting to see the outcome of Joe Lewis' insider trading allegations with the 86 year-old denying the charges put to him in court.

Levy and Al-Khelaifi are said to have a close relationship since QSI's interest in buying Spurs emerged with contact reportedly being maintained amid links between Harry Kane and PSG. Sparked by talk of a potential deal to bring Kylian Mbappe to north London, which has been quickly rebuffed, Spurs could soon see PSG handed a huge cash sum with the sale of their prize asset.

Levy and Al-Khelaifi are said to have 'regular exchanges', according to L'Equipe, with the potential for a takeover to develop if PSG are sold with The Telegraph reporting that Spurs have a £3.5 billion price tag after an approach to the club in September 2021.

Greg Maffei, CEO of Formula One owners Liberty Media, has hinted that his next sporting venture could be in the Premier League. The American-based mass media company also owns the Atlanta Braves Major League Baseball team.

Speaking on the Walker Webcast, he said: "You mention the Premier League teams; there isn't an asset we haven't looked at. "That doesn't mean we've been ready to buy them all but we look at everything because we do think sports in general is attractive, we do think there are upsides and do think those things that management teams have taught up can help apply perhaps in other sports situations."

The Telegraph reported on Wednesday that Liberty Media have been 'mooted by one insider' as a potential option but they would not comment on reports.

"We have a duty to consider any proposal anyone wants to make. "All I would say is we are not in negotiations with anybody, nor have we been in recent months."