There’s something about the prospect of a takeover that whips Spurs fans into a frenzy.
On Thursday, news broke of a £4.5 billion bid from an American consortium to take the reins at Spurs.
That figure would represent the largest club purchase in football history, and would give Thomas Frank a rather sizeable budget increase for his project.
UK takeover code requires any formal interest to be made public, which has not yet happened, but the rumours have still sparked a strong reaction from fans.
Spurs fans react to takeover rumours
While some are still debating the legitimacy of these rumours, others have already accepted a takeover is happening. But not all Spurs fans are on the same page.
This fan is hesitant to believe the rumours, but also excited at the potential for new ownership: “Could we finally be at the top of the transfer market in the future? Times ahead for Spurs could be looking good if this is real.”
Similarly, another fan sees this as a turning point for the club: “Spurs about to get new ownership and funding. They might be overtaking Arsenal as the top club in North London if the proposed takeover goes through.”
But others aren’t jumping the gun.
As this Spurs fan says: “A takeover bid is very different from an accepted bid. If negotiations are confirmed, I’ll get interested.”
“I don’t think we will be taken over, but if he placed the bid to the takeover panel and makes it public, who knows what happens,” chimes in another sceptic.
So that’s the believers and the sceptics. But there’s another group in the fanbase who are being just as loud. The ‘Hell no-ers’.
One fan is concerned about American ownership, having seen how some from across the pond conduct business: “Not the US, don’t want another Todd Boehly.”
The American element seems to be leaving some fans stuck. In the same vein: “Don’t sell to the Americans, it’s just too horrible to lose that precious piece of British culture.”
One Man United supporter attempts to warn the Spurs support.
A mixed bag of reactions, indeed.
Spurs takeover chat is nothing new
It feels like takeover chat is a cyclical thing in North London.
Every few months, the conversation resurfaces, but it’s always difficult to know if there is anything behind the rumours. Upon Daniel Levy’s departure from the executive chairman role earlier this month, an Asian consortium reached out to express interest in a takeover, but were reportedly met with a stern rejection from the Lewis family.
That suggests that they aren’t looking to sell, but their stance could well change.
As Alasdair Gold writes for Football London: “It remains to be seen whether ENIC’s stance would waver if a bid were to actually be made, especially if it was north of the club’s valuation.”
It’s no coincidence that these takeover rumours are persisting. Groups would not be making their interest known if there was 0% chance of a deal being reached.
But for now, it’s just rumours. If there is any truth to the claims, we will know about it when an official move is made.
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