Tottenham takeover: 'Qatar interest is real' as Daniel Levy holds talks
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Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has insisted the Qatari state has a “real interest” in investment at Tottenham.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, the 67-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – claimed the state-backed Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) are a “good match” for Spurs.
It was widely reported last year that Daniel Levy has been in talks to sell a 10% stake in Tottenham that could value the club at up to £3.75billion.
Levy has held several rounds of talks with QSI president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who is also president at French club Paris Saint-Germain, over investment opportunities in recent years.
That relationship was reportedly renewed this month, when the Tottenham chief jetted out to Paris for in-person negotiations over a potential deal for striker Randal Kolo Muani.
Journalist Ben Jacobs claimed (via Last Word On Spurs, 6 January) Levy “shares a strong relationship with the PSG president”.
Wyness suggested the only stumbling block would be with how QSI and Tottenham would navigate Uefa rules, which prevent clubs owned by the same parties being involved in the same competition.
‘There’s no doubt there is real interest from Qatar’ in Tottenham, says Wyness
He told Football Insider's Insider Track podcast: "The talks between QSI and Spurs have been going on for years now.
"The first reports were three years ago, when they started discussing a potential deal.
"There's no doubt there is real interest from Qatar.
"I think a London club like Spurs fit the profile, but the problem is with PSG and how they'd handle that with the Champions League rules.
"But at the moment, Spurs aren't threatening to make the Champions League.
"Qatar like to invest in clubs with big assets, like the new stadium. I do think it would work.
"We might see something develop out of this.
"Nasser Al-Khelaifi is a very reasonable guy, I've met him a few times, and he understands that it will all depend on the QSI's long-term strategy.
"But I think it's a good match."
In other news, Spurs set for crushing £31million blow.
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