The Express this morning ‘exclusively’ revealed that AEG lead by Philip Anschutz has been in talks with current owner Joe Lewis for several weeks about a deal worth up to £450m for the club.

I have to admit that it feels like we have been here before. In fact ever since ENIC and Joe Lewis took over the club back in late 2000 from the presenter of the TV programme The Apprentice, there have been regular sound bites about a sale. Some 12 years later and under the successful guidance of Daniel Levy and co such stories have failed to materialise.

We certainly would be an attractive option; with Champions League football looking likely and much planning and ground work having been undertaken on both the training facilities and stadium. The club is currently on the crest of the wave and enjoying its best success since the early 90’s. Perhaps Lewis and ENIC feel that the time has come to cash in on the club’s improved fortunes in recent times.

AEG who currently own LA Galaxy amongst others in their vast portfolio worked closely with the club on our failed Olympic Stadium bid and it is possible that such close dealings may have spurred owner Philip Anschutz who it is claimed has a personal fortune of £4.4 billion to consider increasing that portfolio.

Ownership by American’s is always likely to cause divide amongst the fans. I would certainly be in the camp that further investment in the club would be good, however as long as that investment does not come at a cost detrimental to the club. In recent times the takeovers at both Manchester United and Liverpool by American consortiums have been met by some supporter obstacles, particularly in the former, however have been viewed overall as a success.

Whether any deal is dependent on the position of Daniel Levy at the club is unclear; however what is clear is that Levy’s loyalty and determination for the club has never wavered and few would be likely to reject a proposed takeover should he remain in his position of chairman. Under his guidance and with renewed investment and funding the club could find itself catapulted even beyond the current great times competing with the teams at the top on transfers and wages.

While a degree of salt should be taken with this one and not just because it was published in The Express, do not be surprised if this one rears its head from time to time over the next few months.

Anyway I’m off to grab a Starbucks, then meeting friends for lunch in Hardrock Café and rounding of the day with a nice cold Budweiser or two. God Bless America and God Bless Tottenham Hotspurs. How do you feel?

]]> http://onespursblog.com/2012/02/17/american-owners-for-tottenham-hotspurs/feed/ 11 Levy Administrator http://onespursblog.com/2012/02/16/arsenal-players-feature-in-new-series-of-lost/ http://onespursblog.com/2012/02/16/arsenal-players-feature-in-new-series-of-lost/#comments Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:16:46 +0000 Jonny Moffett http://onespursblog.wordpress.com/?p=750 Continue reading »]]> On the 15th of February 2011 a Spurs side missing the likes of Bale, King and Modric went to the San Siro and left with a remarkable but in the end comfortable 1 – 0 victory thanks to Peter Crouch’s late strike.

Fast forward exactly 12 months to the 15^th of February 2012 and the likes of Van Persie, Henry and Walcott crumble to a humiliating 4 – 0 defeat to an almost identical Milan team that we brushed aside in the last 16. It really was a pitiful and pathetic performance.

I’ve already watched both series of Idiot Abroad and last night even the Arsenal fans who made the trip must have been waiting for Gervais and Merchant to peer from behind Wenger’s dugout.

With the Champions League run almost at an end, a difficult FA Cup trip to Sunderland at the weekend and a fight for 4^th place ahead, it may be somewhat presumptive but we think Arsenal’s season is Lost for another season.

Enjoy the picture folks and be sure to share with your Arsenal colleagues who have no doubt been rather quiet at their desks this morning!

Sparked by comments made by Hazard in a French television appearance who claimed his interest in a move to London and N17 in particular, it appears there may be some substance to the claims.

I’m seen little of Hazard in action to be honest, fleeting glimpses when bored and watching French football highlights. I’ve been informed that if you take a Modric and a Taarabt you’ll arrive at Eden Hazard and perhaps his potential signing may signal the eventual replacement of the former.

I’ll wait with baited breath on this one. Holding the shirt and all that and declaring his love for Spurs since his youth and then I’ll be convinced. However it does sound promising and any young, exciting talent which has been chased by some of Europe’s top clubs is always welcome at White Hart Lane.

One question for you to discuss – A  Redknapp or Levy signing in the making?

Hazard speaks to French television about a move to White Hart Lane

Hazard in action for Lille and Belgium

A blistering start with goals through Ekotto and the impressive Saha inside the first 5 minutes set the tone for a fantastic attacking display which Harry clearly enjoyed on the touchline with joy and passion.

Further first half strikes through Kranjcar and Saha ensured Spurs went into the interval with a seemingly unassailable lead. Interestingly it was a year ago this weekend that Newcastle recovered from a similar position at half-time in their famous 4 – 4 draw with Arsenal. Any chance of them repeating a similar feat was quickly dashed when man of the match Emmanuel Adebayor scored his first goal since Chelsea in December. A fine finish!

Adebayor looked back to his very best yesterday, causing Newcastle problems from the very 1^st minute. Surging runs and impressive link-up play with Saha ensured the big man played a part in all 5 goals. Indeed the partnership between Adebayor and Saha looked like a match made and heaven and Rafeal Van der Vaart who celebrated his 29^th birthday in the stands will do well to get his place back on this showing.

While we were superior in attack, special mention must also be given to the back 4 who once again registered a clean sheet and handled the threat of Cisse and Ba with consummate ease. I’ve since heard that Ledley King actually found Demba Ba in his back pocket on the way home from the game.

With a constant chorus of songs in support of Harry throughout and the ironic unison of ‘Pardew for England’ the feel good atmosphere was certainly evident at White Hart Lane on a cold night and Harry will no doubt have felt a warm glow watching us play a wonderful brand of football. Whether it is enough to convince him to stay long term is unclear, but there would appear to be a strong sense that Harry wants to see this season through with the team and we should be crossing everything in hope that this will be the case. He really has got us playing some beautiful football that is a pleasure to watch.

With Chelsea and Liverpool once again succumbing to defeat we have now opened up a massive 10 point gap between ourselves and forth. The return of Champions League football looks ever likely to be Harry’s parting gift should he depart at the end of the season and on this showing perhaps that gift may get even bigger and better in time, let’s not rule out anything. There isn’t a better time to be a Spurs supporter on current showing. Stevenage in the cup next!

The Israeli, who masterminded West Ham’s relegation last season, was snapped today with Harry and Scott Parker during this morning’s training session. He even appeared to have bought a Spurs jacket for his outing!

With the likes of Mourinho linked to the soon to be vacant manager’s position at White Hart Lane, let’s just hope this was merely a personal. I don’t think any of us would settle for Avram making a regular appearance in that Spurs overcoat. Taxi!

A penny for your thoughts on what these 3 were discussing?

The premature nature of Capello’s resignation for Wembley towers last night has come just a little too early for most and with the media frenzy around Harry already rising to cataclysmic levels, it’s all become a little too real too quickly that Harry may soon be making his departure from N17 just as the party was really starting.

It’s seems that everyone from this nation to the United Nations is in unity over Harry’s pending appointment. Everyone that is apart Daniel Levy and the worried Tottenham faithful.

While some would have you think this move is a foregone conclusion in the coming days, do not underestimate the love that Harry has for the players and the fans. He is rightly proud of what he has achieved at White Hart Lane and parting just as we look like being real challengers in the coming years may be something that Harry might just find too difficult.

Do not also disregard his gratitude to Daniel Levy and the Tottenham hierarchy who he rightly publicly thanked for their support during his difficult days over the past number of weeks.  Harry is likely to feel indebted and although unlikely to be a deciding factor between staying and departing, Harry is likely to know that such support may not have been so forthcoming from members of the FA had the situation been different.

Harry is likely to receive a fantastic reception on Saturday evening at the Lane in a match which now takes on even greater importance. With all eyes on Harry, I am in no doubt he will stay true to his word and focus on nothing other than Spurs this week. While it is unlikely that we will see a farewell wave come 7.00pm on Saturday, a quick outcome one way or the other is required as we look to maintain our push for a top 3 place.

My personal view and one shared by many including is that Harry will take charge of England, but that is a role I believe he will take at the end of the season. Harry will give us a farewell wave, but only after guiding Spurs to their best finish in the league for many a season. In Harry we trust!

What do you think? Will Harry stay on for a little while longer or will he make a quick exit? I’d love you to share your comments and thoughts below.

Through the medium of social networking and the video editing skills of Danny Rose we can view Sandro in his natural habitat; the Spurs changing room. In a quite bizarre, but yet spectacular performance, Sandro does his best to take heads off and completely demolish anything in his path. It’s worth the watch.

On this viewing I’m really looking forward to the next time someone squares up to him during a match. Apparently in the late 80’s when Michael Jackson met a young Sandro he turned white! Long live the Sandro!

Saha at 33 and Nelsen at 34 were not exactly names suggested in the run-up to the window and will certainly do little to convince the leading stars at White Hart Lane of the club’s ambition, but on reflection these signings bare the hallmarks of Harry Redknapp’s eye for a deal and Daniel Levy’s shrewd business acumen.

In Saha and Nelsen, Harry has signed experienced, seasoned professionals who bring with them an ability to do a job when required. Neither is likely to command a role in the first 11 but neither will look out of place if fitness concerns can be overcome by both. William Gallas signings if you will.

As far as Daniel Levy is concerned, he has signed 2 experienced Premier League players at little or no cost to his pocket, both of whom find themselves on short term deals. A perfect scenario for Daniel Levy given the circumstances which he and the club find itself in.

Confident in the fact that Spurs are likely to secure a top 4 finish this season with the current squad, Levy has recognised that he can keep the purse strings closed a little longer as he and others wait for the inevitable departure of Harry in the summer. Whilst there is no doubt in my mind that Levy would have sanctioned a big money move for Remy or of someone of a similar ilk, it was always likely that any signing that didn’t fit his policy of young with potential earning value would be shunned.

In doing so Levy may well have pulled a master stroke in leaving us perfectly positioned for a huge summer in which big changes will take place. Little comfort to those who wanted Leandro 10 printed on the back of their new shirts in January and have instead had to settle for Nelsen 87, but do take heart in that plans are likely to be already in motion behind the scenes.

With a number of the first team squad now out on loan and the Pavlyuchenko money in the bank account in addition to the sums of cash paid by Stoke in the summer for Crouch and Palacios which some forget, Levy is slowing amassing a financial position in which Spurs should be able to both add to the squad in the summer as well as move plans forward with the redevelopment of White Hart Lane.

While in the short term the signings of Saha and Nelsen may raise eyebrows, I believe that Levy once again has played a very sensible and safe card. The pursuit of a league title next season as well as Champions League football will allow Levy and whoever is manager of the club the opportunity to finally add the final pieces of the jigsaw that is so close to be completed. In Levy we should trust. At least until the 31^st of August!