IRANIAN-AMERICAN billionaire Jahm Najafi is reportedly preparing “a blockbuster £3.1bn takeover bid” for Tottenham.
That is according to the Financial Times, who state they were informed by “two people with direct knowledge” of the plans.
Najafi is the chair of MSP Sports Capital and is “working with a consortium of investors to structure the bid”.
And now he is just “weeks away from formally approaching Spurs owner Joe Lewis and the football club’s chair Daniel Levy” with his offer.
Najafi’s bid will be structured so that 70 per cent of the purchase price will be put forward by MSP and the partners recruited.
And the other 30 per cent will be made up by backers from the Middle East, which are allegedly mainly based in Abu Dhabi.
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The Najafi-led consortium also have an interest in the real estate and development rights available through owning the team, according to one source in the story.
Najafi, who was previously a minority shareholder in NBA side Phoenix Suns, is looking to become the latest US Premier League club owner after a recent influx.
A consortium led by US financier Todd Boehly and private equity group Clearlake Capital bought Chelsea last year for around £2.5bn.
Another investor group, which was led by Bill Foley and included Hollywood star Michael B Jordan, also purchased Bournemouth for £120m.
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Since moving into their stunning new ground in 2019, the Tottenham Stadium has hosted a number of other large and money-spinning sporting events, including NFL, boxing, rugby as well as music concerts.
The club reported revenues of £444m in the year that ended June 2022, which was a major increase from the £361m the previous season – although they recorded a £50m net loss.
News of this potential takeover is certain to excite frustrated supporters, who have regularly protested against chairman Daniel Levy and current owner Joe Lewis.
Spurs last lifted silverware in 2008 when they won the League Cup despite having the much-sought Antonio Conte as manager and the club’s new record goalscorer Harry Kane in attack.
Their last league title came way back in 1961 and their current form shows no signs the barren run will end any time soon.
They are currently fifth in the Premier League, two points behind fourth-placed Newcastle, and face an uphill task to progress in this season’s Champions League.
They lost 1-0 at AC Milan last night in the first-leg of their last-16 clash.
The Enic Group currently owns 86.58 per cent of the club and is headed up by billionaire Lewis alongside Levy.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
