Landmark £867m reveal holds key to Tottenham takeover as four multi-billionaires linked

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Tottenham are benefiting from one strategy pursued by Daniel Levy that could eventually have a major bearing on their takeover value.

Levy revealed in his notes to the North London club’s 2022-23 accounts, which were released in April, that the club were seeking fresh investment.

It is not known whether that is in the form of a full or partial takeover, but the chairman and co-owner, 62, has said that he is not especially keen to leave the club yet.

However, a number of parties have been linked with a deal to take a controlling stake in the club, while others have reportedly been contacted about a minority stake.

And the latest analysis from industry experts Deloitte has validated one of Levy’s projects that has significantly raised the price he could recoup from investors.

Tottenham leading the way in matchday income

In their Annual Review of Football Finance released on Monday (25 June), Big Four accounting firm Deloitte revealed that Premier League clubs generated a record £867m in matchday income last season.

Spurs were second only to Man United in terms of the cash they generated through the turnstiles, with the London club banking £188m compared to United’s £136.4m.

However, in terms of money generated per fan, Spurs’ income is far higher and far more impressive.

The world-class 62,850-seater stadium opened in 2019 has also been a catalyst from Spurs to strike a number of ultra-lucrative commercial deals.

All of these factors contribute to Spurs’ excellent EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation), a key metric in evaluating the enterprise value of football club.

That value now stands at around £2.6bn, according to most analyses. That would be a world record.

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Who is interested in a Spurs takeover?

In recent years, four different parties have been linked – with differing levels of certainty – with a Spurs takeover.

MSP Sports Capital, who recently failed in a bid to take over Everton, were exploring a deal for a majority stake but that interest has now cooled.

Liberty Media, the most valuable sports empire in the world, have also been linked with investment, although that would likely be in a minority capacity.

The US group own Formula One and, through that brand, have an existing commercial relationship with Spurs.

The state-backed Qatar Sports Investment have been suggested as potential new owners too.

Levy is a close associate of the group’s president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, and was reported to have met him for talks. This, however, has been denied in some quarters.

Finally, the rapper tuned businessman Jay-Z has also been linked by US media. He is worth £2bn and has previously expressed an interest in buying Arsenal.