TBR Football

Tottenham remain a likely target for a private equity giant or a consortium of investors despite the Lewis family’s insistence that the club is not for sale.

Following the abrupt exit of chairman and 29 per cent shareholder Daniel Levy last month, takeover whispers in North London have developed into a steady drone.

Thanks to disclosures under the UK Takeover Code, Tottenham fans know that there have been at least three expressions of interest in their club that were sufficiently serious to divulge to minor shareholders.

Amanda Staveley’s PCP International Finance and Firehawk, a group led by Roger Kennedy and Wing-Fai Ng, both saw approaches knocked back by ENIC in the immediate aftermath of Levy’s egress.

And this week, an investor called Brooklyn Earick leading a consortium of prospectors said to include NBA and NFL franchise shareholders became the latest to have a proposal “unequivocally rejected” by Spurs.

In the last 24 hours, it has emerged via The Athletic that Spurs have also parted company with their Rothschild advisers, a move the club says is natural considering that they are no longer for sale.

Rothschild & Co were appointed by Levy two years ago to smoke out potential investors, with both minority and full takeover options on the table.

However, an investment in ENIC, Spurs’ Bahamas-domiciled parent company, would not be governed by the UK Takeover Code, meaning – in theory – an investment at that level could take place relatively quietly.

And in conversations with football finance industry insiders, TBR Football is routinely told that ENIC are certainly still open to offers if they match their £3.75bn valuation.

But what profile of investor will Tottenham, who fought back to draw 2-2 with Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League last night, likely be looking at when the proposals land in their inbox?

“You could get private equity coming in or a consortium,” says Liverpool University football finance lecturer Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to TBR Football.

“Generally, private equity is a group approach anyway; you just don’t know who the investors are going to be.”

“There are lots of parties that have thought about getting together to make a bid.“

Earick’s bid valued Spurs at £3.3bn, with a further £1.2bn for investment in the first team.

And though the specifics of the proposal will be more nuanced than a flat £3.3bn, that value aligns broadly with independent analysis on Spurs’ value sought by TBR Football.

“The price is in the right ballpark. Spurs have 1) the London factor, 2) the real-estate factor, and 3) the future-proofed stadium factor,” says Maguire.

“There are huge benefits with an investment in Spurs. I think that is reflected in the price, especially when you consider that they don’t have a great record when it comes to winning trophies.

“It’s quite a risk-proof investment,” the Price of Football author continues.

“Spurs did their best to stink out the Premier League last season, but the gap between 17th and 18th is huge. This season, the promoted sides are making a much better go at it, but there’s still no risk.“

Glenn Hoddle is backing one of Tottenham Hotspur’s stars to come good under Thomas Frank following a slow start to the season.

Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur’s form has also slowed right down, with the team having been made to come from 2-0 down to rescue a point against Bodo/Glimt.

Thomas Frank’s team were pretty woeful in the Arctic Circle and can consider themselves very lucky not to have dropped all three points in Norway.

After the game, Glenn Hoddle was asked about Spurs’ struggles to create chances, and he believes there is one player in particular who could help the team significantly.

Glenn Hoddle is very hopeful about Xavi Simons at Tottenham

Hoddle is hopeful that Xavi Simons will eventually come good at Tottenham and help Frank’s team to overcome their creative problem.

The Tottenham legend has concerns over the team’s lack of creativity right now, but he thinks that could change once Simons gets going.

“I think to have that creativity, we’re hoping that Xavi Simons, from Spurs’ point of view, gets his feet under the table. He’s a creative player,” Hoddle told TNT Sports.

“He might be able to unlock the door and open a team up, but at the moment, he’s just finding his feet. He’s had some good performances, and there’s still more to come from him.”

So far, Frank has used the Dutch international rather sparingly, having started him from the bench in two of Spurs’ last four matches.

There is also the fact that Frank hasn’t been using Simons in the number ten, which has really frustrated a lot of supporters.

Instead, the Spurs boss has opted to pack out his midfield with proper central midfielders, which isn’t really working at the moment.

To stand a chance of changing the Lilywhites’ fortunes in the final third, the Danish head coach must consider playing Simons, Tottenham’s £52m signing, in a central role.

Thomas Frank must reconfigure Tottenham’s midfield vs Leeds

Frank should be looking to reconfigure Tottenham’s midfield for their trip away to Leeds after seeing it fail against Wolves and now Bodo.

His first job must be to get Simons playing in the number ten role, and then find a suitable partner for Joao Palhinha.

The Portuguese midfielder has been excellent since returning to London and is now one of the first names on the team sheet.

Following Tuesday night’s draw, Tottenham Hotspur have now faced Norway’s Bodo/Glimt three times in one year.

En route to winning the Europa League under Ange Postecoglou last season, Tottenham beat Bodo/Glimt 5-1 on aggregate over two legs, winning 2-0 in Norway.

Of course, both sides are now in the Champions League this time around, and the draw offered Bodo/Glimt a chance to get revenge on their north London counterparts.

And in truth, it appeared as if Thomas Frank’s side were on course to lose in the Arctic Circle – only to be rescued by another late comeback.

Micky van de Ven took responsibility for Tottenham, and Frank’s side were also able to force an own goal from the home side, who were put under pressure from several crosses.

Jens Petter Hauge assesses Tottenham under Thomas Frank and Ange Postecoglou

That being said, Bodo/Glimt’s two-goal scorer Jens Petter Hauge was asked an interesting question about Tottenham after full-time.

Hauge actually left Norway to play for the likes of AC Milan, Eintracht Frankfurt and KAA Gent over the past five years.

But now back at Glimt, Hauge has immediately reignited his best form, as demonstrated by his two goals against Spurs.

And when speaking after the game, as reported by Norwegian outlet Nettavisen, Hauge was asked if he thought Tottenham were better under Postecoglou or Frank.

Hauge started all three matches against Spurs, and he ultimately refused to choose one or the other, saying the games were played in very different circumstances.

Asked if it was easier to face Frank’s side, Hauge said: “I wouldn’t say that, the setting is different. Last time there was a semi-final in Europe, where they really had to do everything to save themselves. They also came here with a result that made it a different game.”

Jens Petter Hauge was asked if he wanted to sign for Tottenham

At 25 years old, there’s still reason to believe that Hauge could make the switch back to one of Europe’s elite leagues in the future.

And in an interview with Norway’s VG, also after full-time against Spurs, Hauge was asked if he would consider leaving Glimt for north London.

In reply, Hauge simply said: “I’m not going anywhere.”

Of course, Hauge is not going to publicly declare his wish to leave, even if a move to Spurs might be tempting, after all, he signed a three-year deal with Glimt earlier this year.

Thomas Frank will be blowing a big sigh of relief after Tottenham Hotspur salvaged a late point away at Bodo/Glimt, and so will Brennan Johnson after his ‘awful’ error.

Tottenham Hotspur had to come from 2-0 down to rescue a point against Bodo/Glimt, having produced a shocking display on the night.

Thomas Frank’s team were miles off the pace in the Arctic Circle and can count themselves very lucky not to have suffered a defeat.

Brennan Johnson was poor on the night, and Steve McManaman spotted him making a shocking mistake against the Norwegian side.

Brennan Johnson was at fault for Bodo/Glimt’s first goal vs Tottenham

McManaman has slammed Johnson’s involvement in Bodo/Glimt’s first goal against Tottenham in the Champions League.

Neither Pedro Porro nor Johnson communicated or tracked the run of Jens Petter Hauge, who was allowed to cut inside and score.

The 25-year-old managed to score a brace against the North London club as he almost secured Bodo their first Champions League win.

When analysing the goal, McManaman told TNT Sports: “It’s an awful goal to watch, if you’re Thomas Frank and you see that. Johnson can see all three players and himself; he can easily shout at Porro, ‘You go with the runner’.

“You can say anything to him to affect that situation. He couldn’t have said a word because both of them let Hauge come inside the pitch, where it’s dangerous, and it just opens up the whole goal for him.”

There are concerns that Johnson could struggle under Frank, and so far, the winger has not seemed to suit the Dane’s new system at Spurs.

One key Brennan Johnson stat vs Bodo/Glimt sums him up right now

Johnson failed to complete a single dribble attempt or even attempt one against Bodo, as his weakness out wide continues to be highlighted.

Frank could move Johnson centrally, but whatever he decides, right now, the Welsh international just does not offer enough on the wing.

Meanwhile, Wilson Odobert also struggled on the left wing to take on Bodo right-back Fredrik Sjovold, and this is a real concern for Frank.

The new Spurs boss’ system is heavily reliant on chances being created for out wide, so when his wingers aren’t at the races, his team struggle to conjure opportunities.

Thomas Frank has just revealed that he is promoting Micky van de Ven at Tottenham Hotspur, having been so impressed by one key attribute the Dutch defender has shown.

Van de Ven scored and captained as Tottenham Hotspur had to come from 2-0 down to rescue a point away at Bodo/Glimt.

Thomas Frank’s team struggled on the artificial surface in the Arctic Circle and ended up being rather fortunate not to have been beaten during their trip to Norway.

Speaking after the game, Frank was full of praise for his acting captain and revealed the Dutch defender has just earned a promotion at the North London club.

Thomas Frank adds Micky van de Ven to Tottenham’s leadership group

Frank revealed that he has added Micky van de Ven to Tottenham’s leadership group after he captained the team against Bodo/Glimt.

During the absence of club captain Cristian Romero, who was missing due to a precaution, the 24-year-old stepped up to take the armband.

Van de Ven wore it with great responsibility as he started Spurs’ fightback with an impressive header to pull a goal back for the Lilywhites.

Explaining why Van de Ven was made captain against Bodo, Frank told the media: “Thank you for that. Yes, I have made a decision. I haven’t told the players yet, and that will be on Thursday.

“So I made the decision, but it’s probably pretty obvious he will be. He has impressed me a lot as a player, but also as a communicator on the pitch. And a little bit of show of character. I think he was good today.”

Tottenham are highly reliant on Van de Ven, given his speed and superb defending, but now, it’s clear his leadership skills are another key factor.

Kevin Danso did a great job replacing Cristian Romero

Another player who impressed against Bodo was Van de Ven’s partner on the night, Kevin Danso, who did a great job filling in for Romero.

For £21m, Danso has been a bargain signing for Tottenham, and his ability to seamlessly slot into the team was highlighted away at Bodo.

The defender managed four clearances, one blocked shot and won four of his five aerial duels against the Norwegian team.

Frank will hope to have his captain back for Spurs’ trip to Leeds on the weekend, but if not, Danso has proved to be a more than adequate replacement.

It was a tough evening for Tottenham Hotspur against Bodo/Glimt, and it was an especially tough game for Richarlison, who has supporters in total agreement.

Tottenham Hotspur were forced to come from 2-0 down to rescue a point against Bodo, following what was a dismal display from the North London club.

Thomas Frank’s team looked well off the pace in the Arctic Circle and will count themselves very fortunate to have left without suffering defeat.

But one player who received a fair amount of stick for his performance was Richarlison, whose lack of touches just summed up his evening in Norway.

Tottenham fans slam Richarlison’s performance vs Bodo/Glimt

Tottenham fans were far from impressed with Richarlison’s performance against Bodo/Glimt as the Brazilian had a tricky evening in the Arctic Circle.

The 28-year-old struggled to get involved against the Norwegian side as he had just nine touches at the Aspmyra Stadion.

Richarlison did help force Spurs’ equalising goal, which was credited as an own goal, on an otherwise quiet night from the forward.

Frank is a big fan of Richarlison; however, his recent displays for the Lilywhites will be a cause for concern for the Danish head coach.

The former Everton star will argue that he was starved of service, but in truth, he struggled to get involved, and Spurs lacked a focal point with him leading the line.

During the match, Spurs supporters took to X to share their thoughts on the striker’s performance in the Champions League, and it doesn’t make for great reading.

One fan said: “Very uninspiring being in the Champions League with an attacking three of Odobert, Richarlison and Johnson… Our recruitment is a massive issue.”

There was yet more criticism for the Brazilian: “Richarlison was, is, and never will be good enough for Tottenham.”

“Richarlison scored two goals against Burnley, and everyone forgot how poor he is,” added another fan.

Finally, one fan claimed: “We have no competition for Richarlison, that’s why he drops 2/10 performances and knows that he’s gonna play the next game and not be subbed off. He’s been poor this game, same with the majority of the team. No control whatsoever.”

Frank will now need to start assessing alternative options to start up top for Spurs, which could include playing a false nine.

Tottenham need Randal Kolo Muani back as soon as possible

Tottenham are without Dominic Solanke, who has just undergone minor ankle surgery and Randal Kolo Muani, who is still recovering from a dead leg.

Frank will be eager to get the Frenchman back as soon as possible to provide Richarlison with much-needed competition for his place in the team.

Ahead of the match, Frank told the media: “Kolo Muani, I think now we’re finally on top of his dead leg. So there’s also progress there. So that’s good.”

But it’s clear that Richarlison cannot continue in the number nine role if his performances continue the way they have over recent weeks.

Micky van de Ven has gained a reputation for being one of the fastest players in world football, but one Tottenham Hotspur star has actually outpaced him this season.

Van de Ven is so important for Tottenham because of how quickly he can get back when attackers get behind Spurs’ back line.

Back in January 2024 against Brentford, Van de Ven became the fastest Premier League player ever recorded, with a top speed of 37.38km/h.

But now, there is another Tottenham Hotspur star who has actually recorded a quicker speed than the Dutch defender this season.

Djed Spence is the fastest recorded player in the Champions League this season

After Gameweek One, Tottenham defender Djed Spence is the fastest recorded player in the Champions League this season.

At home to Villarreal, the 25-year-old recorded a top speed of 33.4km/h, with PSG’s Bradley Barcola second at 0.2km/h slower.

Mikey Moore once called Spence ‘rapid’ and actually suggested that he is just as fast as the former Bundesliga defender.

Spence is playing with great confidence right now and is, without doubt, one of the best full-backs in the Premier League.

Recently, Tottenham rewarded Spence with a new contract as a reward for his remarkable turnaround in North London.

The former Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough star has shown no signs of slowing down either, following a hugely impressive start to the season.

Djed Spence is now viewed as a permanent left-back

Meanwhile, the England international also appears to have found a new position, with Thomas Frank switching him to left-back.

Ange Postecoglou was the first coach to switch up his role, and Spurs’ new Danish head coach appears to agree with his change.

TBR Football now understands that Frank has made the move permanent, with the North London club now targeting a new right-back.

Tottenham Hotspur have suffered the major blow of losing Cristian Romero to injury, however, it offers Thomas Frank the chance to use the team’s secret weapon.

The North London club travel to Bodo for the second time this year, for their second Champions League group phase game against the Norwegian side.

Tottenham Hotspur have made the trip to the Arctic Circle without their club captain Cristian Romero, who has been left out due to precaution.

There’s no doubting that losing the Argentine to an injury is a big blow, but it does allow Thomas Frank to utilise one of his team’s strongest assets.

Tottenham must make use of Kevin Danso’s long throw vs Bodo/Glimt

Against Bodo/Glimt, Tottenham must look to make use of Kevin Danso’s long throw, which has proven to be a real threat for them.

The Austrian’s long throw first appeared during the UEFA Super Cup final, where the 27-year-old was tasked with launching the ball into PSG’s box.

Tottenham started practising throw-ins under Frank during pre-season, when a social media clip from Destiny Udogie went viral with a list of training drills.

But with Danso spending most of the season on the bench behind Romero and Micky van de Ven, we have rarely been able to see the long throw used.

Lucas Bergvall appears to be second in command for long throw-ins, with the Swede also having a strong arm on him.

Tottenham signed Danso for £21m in the summer, and it is moments like this where the defender’s importance to the squad is really highlighted.

The former Lens defender has proven himself to be a superb central defender, but now his importance to the team could increase yet further if they make use of his huge throws.

Thomas Frank on Tottenham’s team news vs Bodo/Glimt

Romero is not the only Tottenham player missing the trip to Norway, with Dominic Solanke and Randal Kolo Muani also sidelined.

Frank has confirmed that Kolo Muani is still struggling with a dead leg, meanwhile, Solanke has had minor surgery on his ankle.

Speaking to the media about Solanke, Frank said: “Dom, you know, got that ankle issue that’s been bothering him for a little while.

“So now we have decided to make a minor surgery. It’s a small procedure. So that will mean he’s not ready for today, of course.

“Of course, Leeds he’s out as well. We will have more news about the time frame after the international break. But I don’t expect it to be long.”

TBR Football understands that Tottenham Hotspur have a ‘healthy’ transfer budget for the January window and one of the key targets will be a central defender.

The North London club are believed to want another central defender who they consider on par with Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero.

Tottenham love Kevin Danso, but there is a sense that another option is required, who is capable of coming into the team long-term.

Tottenham were keen on Piero Hincapie in the summer, but the Ecuadorian defender instead opted to join their rivals Arsenal.

Ideally, Spurs would like to sign a left-footed player to ensure they are covered on both sides of the defence.

Exclusive: Thomas Frank is a big fan of Nathan Collins

Nathan Collins is very high on Tottenham Hotspur’s list of targets, with Thomas Frank a strong admirer of the defender, sources have told TBR Football’s chief correspondent, Graeme Bailey.

The Irish defender was signed by the Danish manager at Brentford, and he went on to make 77 appearances under him.

Tottenham and Arsenal wanted Collins in the summer, but the Bees stood firm, having already lost several key players and coaching staff.

Another player the North London club are keeping tabs on is Pascal Struijk, who has started the season well for Leeds United and has less than two years left on his contract.

The 26-year-old has played every minute of Leeds’ first season back in the Premier League and has looked very strong at the heart of their defence.

The Lilywhites are not alone in tracking the Dutch defender, with several clubs from around Europe also monitoring his contract situation.

Luka Vuskovic is impressing on loan at HSV

Tottenham will need to be wary of players who will be joining again next summer, especially with Luka Vuskovic impressing on loan at HSV.

The young Crotaian defender has just become the first player in over five seasons to win 18 aerial duels in Europe’s top five leagues.

The 18-year-old won 18 out of his 20 aerial duels as he helped HSV to keep a clean sheet and win away at Union Berlin.

Antoine Semenyo’s outstanding start to the new season has seen fresh interest emerge with some of Europe’s top clubs joining the already impressive list of admirers, TBR Football understands.

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur both held talks in the summer before the forward committed his immediate future to Bournemouth with a new contract.

The 25-year-old signed a deal until 2030 and Bournemouth sources suggest there is no release clause – as we have seen in previous deals with the likes of Dean Huijsen and Dominic Solanke.

Semenyo has started the season brilliantly with four goals and two assists, and despite his new deal, clubs are following him very closely.

United and Spurs both remain keen despite their summer business, and we can reveal that Manchester City and Aston Villa have both taken an interest in him and have watched him this term.

Exclusive: Antoine Semenyo unlikely to leave in January

Despite the links, we are told that Bournemouth are insistent that there is no way Semenyo will be sold in the near future.

Our chief correspondent Graeme Bailey said: “Antoine Semenyo is one of the Premier League’s form players.

“He had Man United and Tottenham showing interest in the summer and now some of Europe’s top clubs are looking.

“As it stands, Bournemouth are intent on making progress this summer and that means no sales.

“They have lost the likes of Huijsen, Kerkez and Zabarnyi in recent months and they are insistent Semenyo won’t be following them through the exit doors in January.”

We can also confirm that German giants Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig have both been watching him this season, as have Atletico Madrid.

TBR Football reported that Bournemouth laughed off suggestions that Semenyo would leave during the summer, and he has started the new campaign in impressive form.

Antoine Semenyo wants to play for ‘top clubs’

Speaking to The Athletic, Semenyo openly admitted his dream is to eventually play for a club in the Champions League or Europa League.

He also said he supports Arsenal, who were also circling for his signature in the summer.

“I am an Arsenal fan,” Semenyo said last October. “I don’t conflict the two with my job.

“It is great to play against Arsenal, a team I have watched all my life and I want to play for the top clubs as well. In order for that to happen I need to prove it.”