Tottenham tight-lipped on reports billionaire is ‘preparing bid’ for club

The Iranian-American billionaire is a part-owner of the Phoenix Suns in the NBA

Tottenham are not commenting on reports that they are set to be the subject of a £3.1bn takeover by Iranian-American billionaire Jahm Najafi.

Najafi, who is a part-owner of the Phoenix Suns in the NBA and chairman, is said to be forming a consortium by the Financial Times.

The Iranian-American founded private equity firm Najafi Companies in 2002 and is chair of the MSP Sports Capital group, which could fund 70% of a £3.1bn takeover bid.

The report states MSP, which has stakes in a number of European football clubs, will join with investors from Abu Dhabi set to make up the rest of the offer to current owner Joe Lewis and chairman Daniel Levy.

Spurs have been owned by ENIC Group since 2001.

The company is run by Lewis and Levy, who is the Premier League’s longest serving chairman.

The club has re-emerged as a regular Champions League challenger during ENIC’s ownership, a period that has also seen the redevelopment of the White Hart Lane site into a world-class stadium.

Supporters have, however, protested against a perceived lack of investment in comparison with the English top-flight’s so-called “Big Six”.

Tottenham recently denied reports that the club were in talks with Qatar Sports Investments about a potential takeover.

Several Premier League clubs are currently up for sale or seeking investment.

Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group announced in November that they would be open to selling the club, while Manchester United’s controlling Glazer family are reportedly also courting investors.

A Qatari consortium is said to be on the verge of submitting a bid for the Old Trafford club, with lifelong fan Jim Ratcliffe also declaring his interest.

Chelsea and Bournemouth were both taken over by American-led consortiums in 2022.

Alongside his minority stake in the Arizona-based Suns, Najafi is vice chairman of McLaren F1.

Additional reporting by PA