TBR Football

As Tottenham chairman, co-owner and a lifelong supporter, Daniel Levy is financially and personally and financially invested in Spurs.

You have to have thick skin to be a club owner. The world of football finance can be unforgiving in the extreme – you get the stick when it goes wrong but rarely the credit when it goes right.

The problem at Spurs, who last night lost 1-0 to Chelsea and whose tally of 34 points could in Premier League seasons gone by have left them at serious risk of relegation, is that it rarely goes right.

The future of Ange Postecoglou is the most pressing issue for Tottenham at present, but the pressure on Daniel Levy and ENIC’s the club’s owners since 2001, is approaching critical mass.

The North Londoners have lost their way – and there is no quick fix.

For a fanbase desperate for a first trophy since 2008, with the Europa League their only remaining shot this season, this dynamic is inspiring equal parts weariness and fury.

Protests against the ownership have intensified, and the decision to play arch-rivals Arsenal in a ‘friendly’ in Hong Kong in the summer has not quelled accusations that they are fixated on commercial income.

As a strategy, Tottenham’s focus on sponsorship, merchandise, events and brand building in markets like Hong Kong has been extraordinarily successful since the move away from White Hart Lane.

Their commercial operation is the best in the Premier League and, quite possibly, the world. Their recently released accounts, which encompass a period lucrative without European football, are case in point.

Turnover remained largely steady at £528m, while commercial income shot up to a new club record of £255m. They have essentially disentangled financial performance from results on the football pitch.

This surge, driven by the money-printing Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has allowed them to spend more, just as Levy said it would. The problem is not how much is spent but rather how it is spent.

The wages-to-turnover ratio is low, yes, but this means Spurs have no issues whatsoever with Profit and Sustainability Rules. And as, Levy recently said, Tottenham “cannot spend what we don’t have.”

As a total, wages have risen in line with turnover, while overall squad cost – that’s wages and transfer fee amortisation – has skyrocketed since the move to the new stadium.

So, while Spurs fans may pine for more big-name signings, it isn’t the level of spending that is necessarily the problem, it’s how funds have been allocated and wasted with no coherent football masterplan.

This is where the accusation that Levy and ENIC need to concentrate less on commercial performance and more on football comes from – and, at its heart, its a fair one.

With that in mind, the latest news from the sports business ecosystem might alarm supporters.

Could Tottenham launch NBA franchise?

Levy has not been shy about signalling his ambitions for Spurs to capitalise on the popularity of other sports, though his rhetoric has cooled somewhat in recent years.

Tottenham famously enjoy very close, lucrative with the NFL, as well as Formula One. Some within American football have insisted Spurs one day want to launch an NFL franchise.

But what about basketball? After the NFL, the NBA is the world’s second most lucrative sports league – and it has its sights set on European expansion too.

This week, NBA commissioner Adam Silver confirmed that his organisation is looking at launching an officially endorsed professional European basketball league.

In recent days, it has been reliable reported that the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona – who already have popular basketball teams – have been invited to sign up, with a rumoured expansion cost of £400m.

Significantly, Manchester City are also said to be in the mix, as well as other Premier League clubs. And, naturally, there is a desire for a London-based franchise too.

Could that open the door for Spurs? It surely wouldn’t go down well with disgruntled fans telling the board to ‘stick to football, explains University of Liverpool football finance lecturer Kieran Maguire.

“This would align with what Spurs at board level want to do,” Maguire said in exclusive conversation with TBR Football.

“It’s a multi-sport model and gives Daniel Levy lots of opportunities to open the stadium. Where the matches would take place, we will have to wait and see. The stadium as it is is too big for basketball.

“We have seen basketball do okay in the UK but ultimately struggle. There have been some strategy and funding issues.

“Previously, we have seen clubs in Europe broaden their sports portfolio. Some clubs are sports clubs, not just football clubs.

“We’re operating in a market where you don’t want fall behind your neighbours.

“If Spurs don’t do it and Real Madrid do, that gives them a competitive edge. If Arsenal take the opportunity in London, Spurs are at a disadvantage, for example.

“I think Spurs are in a very strong position in that they have the resources do something like this. They made £140m worth of EBITDA profit last year, which in theory allows them to invest in other projects in theory.

“It makes sense. The only concern would be – and Daniel Levy has very thick skin – is Spurs fans are very unhappy with the business model being used. He could well just ignore that.”

Takeover latest: Daniel Levy’s options as Spurs talks continue

Adding a whole new sports team into the mix would surely move the dial in Daniel Levy’s attempts to bring new investment to Spurs, but what is the latest with the talks?

Amanda Staveley was in talks to acquire a minority interest in the club as long ago as June 2024, but there have been very few updates in recent months.

A Qatari-financed bid for Spurs, either in the form of a full or partial takeover, has also been mooted.

In news that could be read one of two ways for Spurs, sovereign wealth-backed Qatar Sports Investments are in advanced talks to acquire Malaga.

Is that a signal that QSI have given up on Spurs? Or, is it a tactic admission that Paris Saint Germain’s owners have said to hell with UEFA’s conflict of interest rules and could sanction more takeovers soon?

Another name loosely linked with Tottenham is football investment giant David Blitzer, who co-owns Crystal Palace.

This week, Blitzer announced he is selling his MLS and NWSL franchises, Real Salt Lake and Utah Royals. Could this be a reorganisation of funds for a Spurs bid?

He would have to divest his Palace stake first, and there have been conflicting reports about whether or not that is on the cards, with co-investor John Textor looking for a way out.

TBR Football can exclusively confirm what AC Milan are now doing that could give Tottenham Hotspur the chance to swoop for Fabio Paratici once again.

Last week, TBR Football revealed that AC Milan were close to agreeing a deal for Paratici to join, even though Tottenham were making a late attempt to get him.

Daniel Levy had been pushing for Paratici’s return to Tottenham following the good work he carried out at N17 prior to his ban from football.

Earlier this week, TBR Football revealed that Milan were on the verge of winning the race for Paratici, but there has been a twist that could let Tottenham right back in.

AC Milan now stalling on Fabio Paratici deal with Tottenham ready to pounce

TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey has confirmed that Paratici’s deal with Milan has stalled.

The Italian agreed terms with yesterday, but the Rossoneri are now seeking legal agreements that protect them in the future.

As such, the deal has not been signed, and Milan are now again considering other options.

Levy has been talking to Paratici in the last week as he wants him back and, with Milan stalling, this could allow Tottenham the chance to swoop in and land him.

Some of Fabio Paratici’s best signings at Tottenham

Paratici made a multitude of signings for Tottenham and a fair few of them have been great for the club.

For instance, Paratici brought Cristian Romero in, who is a formidable force when he’s firing on all cylinders.

Likewise, Dejan Kulusevski has gone from a Juventus flop to a key player for Ange Postecoglou at Spurs.

Tottenham are likely to have a busy summer on the transfer front and Paratici would be a big asset in their search for reinforcements in wake of a nightmare season.

Indeed, it remains to be seen whether Paratici would also be saddled with the task of finding a new manager for Spurs.

Ange Postecoglou has been told he needs to get Tottenham into Europe as the bare minimum, which is now a tall order given their league position and a tough European tie against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Tottenham Hotspur lost again on Thursday evening, and the inquest has begun after Spurs’ loss to Chelsea.

Fingers are being pointed left, right and centre at Spurs at the moment, and Ange Postecoglou is under increasing pressure.

Postecoglou seemed to turn on his own fans on Thursday, while the performance from some of his players simply hasn’t been good enough.

Once again, Spurs’ midfield was a problem against Chelsea, and that’s been a running theme all season long.

Speaking on TalkSPORT, Troy Deeney has been discussing Spurs’ midfield problems, and he’s highlighted an issue with Lucas Bergvall.

Lucas Bergvall is never in position

Deeney spoke about Bergvall, claiming he’s spotted a problem with the midfielder.

The pundit isn’t happy with Bergvall’s positioning, claiming that the Swede is often all over the place, claiming that he doesn’t hold his shape and he just runs everywhere.

“The midfield, in my opinion, can’t be sorted until we know who’s the sitting midfielder. Bentancur runs around a lot, but doesn’t get on the ball. The boy Bergvall, he’s a young kid, he just runs. I understand why fans like him, but he’s never in position, he doesn’t hold the shape, he just runs everywhere.”

Lucas Bergvall among Tottenham’s youngest players

Deeney is right, Bergvall can be a bit all over the shop positionally at times, but, ultimately, that is to be expected of a 19-year-old.

Bergvall is only a kid, and he’s being tasked with playing for a top Premier League team under an immensely pressurised environment.

The teenager is among the youngest first-team players at Spurs, and at that age, you can’t blame him for having poor positional sense.

Ultimately, here, the buck lies with Ange Postecoglou, it’s a manager’s job to coach a player on how to play in a system, and when you don’t have the right instructions, you are generally just going to run around the pitch looking to make an impact, even if you don’t have any real aim.

Bergvall can improve his positional sense as he gets older and more mature, but he’ll need to be coached in the right way in order for that to happen.

Tottenham Hotspur may soon be pondering a managerial change.

Indeed, Ange Postecoglou is under immense pressure at the moment as Tottenham are enduring what is possibly their worst season in a generation.

Tottenham have now lost 16 league games this season, and they seem destined to finish in the bottom-half of the table.

Spurs are looking for potential replacements for Ange Postecoglou.

Marco Silva has been linked to Spurs, while Thomas Frank is on Tottenham’s radar too.

Andoni Iraola is apparently Tottenham’s top target, and according to Bournemouth defender, Marco Senesi, speaking on TalkSPORT, there is a chance that Iraola could leave the Cherries to join a top club.

Andoni Iraola could leave Bournemouth

Senesi was asked if he could see Iraola leaving Bournemouth for another club.

The defender says that Iraola definitely has the potential to go to another club, but he’s hoping that the Spaniard stays at Bournemouth for the time being.

“Is it your belief that we will see Iraola in charge of a huge club, with all due respect to Bournemouth, a massive club at some stage,” Senesi was asked.

“Yeah, he’s doing brilliant here. He has the potential to go to other clubs 100%, but hopefully he will stay with us,” Senesi said.

Andoni Iraola compared to Ange Postecoglou this season

Iraola is the frontrunner to replace Postecoglou if the Australian is to go, and it’s not hard to understand why.

Indeed, the Spaniard is outperforming Postecoglou on a number of key metrics this season, as the numbers show.

Not only are Bournemouth above Spurs in the league, the underlying numbers also show that the Cherries are outperforming Tottenham at both ends of the pitch too.

Tottenham do average more possession, but they’re not doing enough with it as Bournemouth are getting more shots off than Spurs, while they’re also conceding fewer chances than Tottenham too.

Iraola’s Bournemouth are outperforming Tottenham to some degree this season, and that’s in spite of the fact they have a much smaller budget.

Injuries can derail any team’s season, just ask Tottenham Hotspur.

Indeed, Spurs have had so many injuries this season, and it’s been an ongoing problem for the north London club.

However, there have been some suggestions that Tottenham’s players have taken some liberties with injuries this season.

Of course, there’s no grounding to those suggestions, but that isn’t to say that this hasn’t happened before.

Indeed, according to former Tottenham ace, Ryan Nelsen, speaking on the Footy Prime Podcast, one of his teammates when he was at Spurs faked an injury for six weeks because of something the manager had said to him.

High profile Tottenham player faked back injury

Nelsen spoke about the idea of players faking injuries.

The defender says that he has seen this happen at the highest level, claiming that one of his teammates at Spurs faked an injury for six weeks after having a bit of a falling out with Harry Redknapp.

“That’s, that happens. I mean, I can tell you stories in saying that. I can tell you stories at Tottenham when I was there, that certain players in the locker room, high, high profile players decided to have a back injury for six weeks because the manager said the wrong thing to them in a team talk,” Nelsen said.

“I won’t say who it is, he was on six figures a week and decided to have a back injury for six weeks. Well, when we’re like second in the league, third in the league. It does happen, it’s the world you live in.”

Tottenham’s form in 2012

Ryan Nelsen only spent six months at Spurs after arriving in January 2012.

Spurs were flying high that January, sitting third in the table.

However, after the January window closed, things seemed to go awry, as highlighted by a key player seemingly faking an injury.

Those issues spilled over onto the pitch as well, as Spurs’ form heading towards the end of the season was poor.

Spurs would ultimately hang onto fourth-place, but they would drop out of the Champions League due to the fact Chelsea won the competition that year.

Harry Redknapp would ultimately be sacked at the end of that season, and, based on what Nelsen says, Redknapp had seemingly lost the dressing room a bit towards the end of his time at Spurs.

Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham have ended up on the losing side yet again.

The Australian was a breath of fresh air when he was appointed as the Spurs boss in the summer of 2023. His style of football was a joy to watch, and the fans loved him.

However, a terrible end to last season combined with what has been an abysmal campaign this time around has made many supporters turn on him.

A good number of Tottenham fans want Postecoglou gone – some are so fed up with him that they think they can do a better job than him.

Jamie O’Hara says he would do a better job than Ange Postecoglou as Tottenham’s manager

Postecoglou’s future as Tottenham’s manager is definitely up in the air.

Injuries have caused the Australian all sorts of problems this season, but his record of 16 defeats in 30 Premier League games is just unacceptable. The last time Spurs lost that many games at this stage of the season was all the way back in 1977.

Daniel Levy has sacked many managers at Tottenham for far less, and Jamie O’Hara cannot believe that Postecoglou still has a job.

The former Spurs midfielder, who played 56 times for the club, pointed out how the teams around Tottenham in the table have all sacked their managers.

Then, O’Hara went as far as saying that he would ‘seriously’ do a better job as the Spurs boss than Postecoglou has been doing this season.

He said on talkSPORT: “Any other manager at Tottenham Hotspur would’ve been sacked, he would’ve been gone.

“We’ve lost 16 games. Every team around us has sacked their manager. Every single team has sacked their manager around us. Every one of them. We’re still there with Ange.

“Mate, honestly, I could take over and do a better job, seriously. Genuinely. Seriously!”

The latest on Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham future

Postecoglou could be in big trouble very soon.

Tottenham are 14th in the Premier League table, level on points with 16th-place West Ham United. They crashed out of both domestic cups as well.

TBR Football exclusively revealed that Daniel Levy has informed Postecoglou that European football at Tottenham next season is the minimum requirement.

The only way that is possible now is if Spurs win the Europa League, but if they play anything like they have done in recent months, Eintracht Frankfurt will knock them out.

That would likely be the end of the road for Postecoglou.

Jermain Defoe has just named one of Tottenham Hotspur’s best players as the Premier League’s most underrated player at this moment in time.

Tottenham Hotspur have had a very tricky season with the team sitting 14th in the Premier League, which has impacted several of their top stars’ performances.

Injuries have also hindered the team and placed an increased burden on some of the top players, which has they’ve struggled to deal with.

But Defoe claims that one Spurs player in particular probably hasn’t been at his best this season, but when he is fully fit and firing, his fantastic ability can be overlooked at times.

Jermain Defoe picks James Maddison as the Premier League’s most underrated player

Former Tottenham Hotspur player Jermain Defoe has named James Maddison as the Premier League’s most underrated player.

The 28-year-old has struggled with injuries recently, but according to Defoe, the qualities he shows when fully fit make him a very talented player. Djed Spence recently called Maddison ‘one of the best in the Premier League’.

The legendary Premier League striker claims that when Maddison, who Tottenham signed for £40m, is at his best, he would be certainly good enough for England and he hopes he can eventually get back into the squad.

Defoe told LiveScore: “Maybe James Maddison, you know. I think when we see when he does play for Tottenham the qualities that he brings.

“I would just love to see him back in the England squad and trying to get in the England team. He missed out on the Euros which was obviously disappointing for him, but I think the best version of James Maddison can play for England.”

Is James Maddison having an underrated season for Tottenham?

Maddison’s numbers this term are perhaps going under the radar as the midfielder is currently on 18 goal contributions.

In total, he has managed 11 goals and seven assists in 38 matchhes which is a solid return considering how poor Spurs have been.

Maddison will hope to finish the season strong in a bid to try and impress new England boss Thomas Tuchel.

Tottenham could now have a problem on the transfer front.

Developments on the pitch have not gone to plan this season, and Ange Postecoglou now risks losing his job this summer after a dismal 2024/25 campaign.

Winning the UEFA Europa League could save the Australian, but the fact Tottenham are currently 14th in the Premier League is not pleasing those in the boardroom.

Plans are being made off the pitch to improve the squad this summer – regardless of who the manager is – but a deal Tottenham already have lined up could now fall apart after El Chiringuito spoke to Johnny Cardoso.

Johnny Cardoso suggests he would refuse to cooperate in agreement between Tottenham and Real Betis

Back in August, Tottenham agreed a £20m option to sign Cardoso in the summer of 2025 during talks to sell Giovani Lo Celso to Real Betis in an £8m deal.

A story from AS recently claimed that Real Betis expect Tottenham to trigger the option and take the United States international this summer – with the Spanish side already hunting for his replacement.

Cardoso – however – would have to agree to the move as well, and a revealing interview with the Real Betis No.4 now suggests he has no intention of joining Spurs.

The 23-year-old said: “I’m very happy here and I hope I can continue enjoying myself at Betis for many years to come.”

Therefore, Tottenham could have further work to do, despite already achieving the hardest part of agreeing a fee with Real Betis.

Another midfielder is expected to join Spurs anyway

Even if Cardoso digs his heels in and refuses to leave Spain, Tottenham fans could see a new midfielder join regardless.

Spurs are favourites to sign Angel Gomes on a free transfer this summer ahead of West Ham, with the England international seeing his contract expire at Lille in June.

The Manchester United academy graduate is a fine footballer, so his potential arrival would go some way to softening the blow if Cardoso causes the £20m agreement to collapse.

Cristian Romero’s time at Tottenham Hotspur could be coming to an end.

The Argentine centre-half has missed a large chunk of this season due to injuries. A toe issue kept him out for a few games between November and December, and he suffered a hamstring injury on his return.

Ange Postecoglou has admitted that he made a mistake with Romero by starting him from the very first game of the campaign, even though he didn’t have a full pre-season.

Romero too hasn’t been happy with Tottenham’s medical staff for the way he was looked after during his hamstring injury.

That has fueled speculation surrounding his future, and Fabrizio Romano has now shared what he knows.

Cristian Romero’s future depends on Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy

Romero will enter the final two years of his contract this summer.

The 26-year-old definitely has his flaws and he has made several mistakes at Tottenham. But, on his day, he can produce exceptional performances.

That is why Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid are interested in signing Romero, while their local rivals Real Madrid are also keeping an eye on him.

TBR Football exclusively revealed that Romero has told his agents that he wants to leave Tottenham and move to Spain this summer.

But, for that to happen, an ‘important offer’ needs to be tabled, or else Daniel Levy will reject everything, says Romano.

He told GiveMeSport: “It’s a possibility but not something guaranteed as it depends on Daniel Levy, and we know how strong Spurs are in negotiations.

“So it’s something possible, definitely; but it has to be an important financial package or Levy won’t accept anything.”

Daniel Levy’s demands to sell Cristian Romero

Tottenham were ready to make Romero their highest-paid player with a new contract, but those plans have been shelved because he is pushing to leave.

Simeone is very keen to sign him for Atletico Madrid and believes that his compatriot is one of the best defenders in the world.

For that move to materialise, Atleti will have to spend big money.

TBR revealed exclusively that Levy would want around £60 million for Romero. If that happens, the Argentine will become Spurs’ third biggest sale of all time after Gareth Bale and Harry Kane.

It remains to be seen if Atletico Madrid or any other club will pay that much to sign Romero this summer.

Clive Allen has been full of praise for one of Tottenham’s top summer transfer targets ahead of his trip to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the weekend.

Tottenham Hotspur are set for a big summer of change, with several players expected to leave and new additions to the squad needed.

Meanwhile, Ange Postecoglou’s future at Spurs is also in doubt with replacements like Thomas Frank and Andoni Iraola being lined up.

Now, the performances from one of their priority targets this season has left Tottenham legend Allen very impressed and he has been speaking about him.

Clive Allen raves about Tyler Dibling ahead of Tottenham vs Southampton

Clive Allen has been raving about the performances of Southampton winger Tyler Dibling, who could cause Tottenham some serious issues on Sunday.

Dibling, who is linked with Tottenham, will be looking to impress the North London club on the weekend when Southampton arrive in town.

Allen believes that Dibling has been the Saints’ best player this season and he’s been so impressed by the improvements the teenager has made.

Allen told SPURSPLAY: “Yeah, I think he’s been their best player this season. I think he’s grown in stature and confidence. I think he’s a great carrier of the ball, we’ve seen his successful dribbles (40) this season and he’s going to be a threat (versus Tottenham). He’s looking to impress people whether he stays at Southampton or moves on in the summer.”

Daniel Levy makes it his ‘personal mission’ to sign Tyler Dibling

Daniel Levy had made it his ‘personal mission’ to sign Dibling and the Spurs chairman has been working for several weeks on a deal.

Last month, TBR Football revealed that Tottenham were confident they were favourites to sign Dibling with Southampton valuing him at £50 million.

TBR Football sources also learned that the 18-year-old was keen on a move to North London, amid interest from several other major clubs.