Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has reassured supporters he remains in the job for the long haul, and would only consider a takeover bid if it was in the interest of the club’s 30,000 shareholders. Levy is very much his own man, and has not always been a popular figure among the White Hart Lane faithful. Some fans have been frustrated by his intransigence and lack of flexibility in the transfer market, but there is no doubt that the club have moved in the right direction since appointing Mauricio Pochettino two years ago. In a rare interview with ESPN, Levy said:
“I’ve been chairman of the club for nearly 16 years, and we have maybe 30,000 small shareholders – we used to be a public company – and my response to that question is always the same: We have a duty when we’ve got 30,000 shareholders to consider any proposals that anyone wants to make the club. There’s a board of transfer.
“But I’ve been here 16 years, and I’d very much hope to be here very much for the long term.”
That report in the Daily Mirror states the club have been valued at £1 billion with a new 61,000-seater stadium in the offing. Whether the sale of the club for an enormous profit is the end game of the stadium move remains to be seen. The new ground will cost £400 million to build, but they are building at a time when the game is awash with fresh TV money. As their neighbours Arsenal have shown, building a stadium can tie one hand behind the club’s back in the short term so they could look for fresh investment.
Elsewhere, goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has said he is confident that the team can cope without spearhead Harry Kane, who was ruled for six to eight weeks with an ankle injury yesterday. New signing Vincent Janssen has been a handed a fantastic chance to impress; one man’s misfortune is another’s opportunity in football. There is no doubt however that this a real blow to Spurs and Kane faces a race to be fit for the North London Derby at the Emirates on the 6th November. Lloris said:
“We have a competitive team and are fully confident in every player. When one player is missing, it gives an opportunity to another player to bring his skills, energy and quality.
“This is the story of the season and that’s why we need all the players involved to be committed to the club because when the manager needs you, you need to respond well.”
Finally, Spurs host Gillingham in the EFL Cup tomorrow night and according to The Metro, Pochettino will a strong looking side including Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen. The pair were rested against Sunderland on Sunday following mid week exertions against Monaco, but are in line to return against the League One outfit.
There will be some chances handed to squad players though, with Tom Carroll, Kieran Trippier and Kevin Wimmer expected to start. Of course, this is the first game of what will be an extended run in the side for Janssen so he will want to get going quickly to quell any doubters.
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