Tottenham news: Transfer target in 'unpleasant situation' as Daniel Levy set for a new deal

It has been a chaotic few months at Tottenham Hotspur since Thomas Frank was named as Ange Postecoglou’s replacement.

In hindsight, completing the signings of Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso, and then securing the big name additions of Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons and taking their spending to over £170million for the summer, was hugely positive. On top of that, the Lilywhites managed to bring in French striker Randal Kolo Muani on a season-long loan deal on deadline day to bolster their attack further.

But Spurs fans will know that getting to this stage was anything but smooth-sailing. Creative midfielder James Maddison ruptured his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) during a pre-season game in August, while Spurs also failed miserably in trying to sign Savinho, Morgan Gibbs-White and, most painfully, Eberechi Eze.

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Daniel Levy stepping down as chairman after nearly a quarter of a century in the role earlier this month was another bombshell. But Spurs have managed to rally and enjoy a steady start to the campaign under new boss Frank, as we now take a look at two major talking points this week.

Lookman’s ‘unpleasant situation’

Tottenham-linked winger Ademola Lookman’s situation at Atalanta is growing increasingly toxic. The Nigeria international has not played for the Serie A side since failing to force through a move to Inter Milan in the summer transfer window.

Lookman has been at odds with the club since Atalanta refused to sell him to a rival and he handed in a transfer request, before publicly accusing them of breaking a promise. The Italian outfit hit back by claiming the agreement to sell him for a certain fee only applied to non-Italian clubs.

The 27-year-old has trained alone since going on strike and was not part of the team’s preparations on Tuesday to face PSG on Wednesday night in their opening Champions League game of the season. Manager Ivan Juric last week described the relationship as strained after Lookman met with club chiefs to discuss his role at the club.

Juric said: "Lookman won't be called up; it's a bad, unpleasant situation. We need spirit, fighting spirit, humility, hard work, and a sense of belonging. Our players need to be like this; I want a different level of humanity."

He followed those damning comments by adding: “I have a very good relationship with Lookman but I shouldn’t have to beg him to play.”

Should Lookman and Atalanta fail to bury the hatchet, the situation will play into the hands of potential suitors, including Tottenham. Spurs were reported last month to have enquired about the forward.

Atalanta were willing to sell Lookman for £43.3m and the player was offered to Spurs on numerous occasions during the window, though the north Londoners never made a formal offer. If the situation persists in the coming months, Spurs will be confident that they can sign the player for a bargain fee of around £20m in January, given that Frank is reportedly a big admirer.

Daniel Levy 'set for Bahamas deal'

Levy’s sudden departure sparked rumours of a potential takeover deal at Spurs, which was swiftly denied by Tottenham in an official statement. "The board of the club and ENIC confirm that Tottenham Hotspur is not for sale and ENIC has no intention to accept any such offer to acquire its interest in the club," the statement read.

ENIC owns an 86.91 per cent stake in Spurs while the remainder is owned by a group of minority investors. Levy and members of his family hold a 29.88 per cent share in the British investment company, and Joe Lewis’s family trust owning the remaining 70.12 per cent.

That leaves an awkward situation whereby Levy still owns shares in the club. Football Insiderreports that ENIC is likely looking to find a buyer for his shares, with any potential deal expected to take place in the Bahamas, where Lewis and Spurs’ new non-executive chairman Peter Charrington are based.

The outlet quoted former Manchester City financial adviser Stefan Borson as saying: “I think that they’re being honest in terms of them not having a particular desire to sell right now, certainly not all of it. But I do think that the situation with Daniel Levy doesn’t seem to be sustainable. He’s been effectively excluded from the management group.

“He’s got a very substantial holding in the club, indirectly he owns 30 per cent of ENIC, so you would think that the possibility at the ENIC level, not the Tottenham Hotspur level, that there might be some discussions about who can replace Daniel Levy within the ENIC group that would then be the ultimate holder of shares in Tottenham Hotspur.

“Now, that transaction, if it happened, would take place in the Bahamas. Daniel Levy and his family would receive the consideration of that sale of that 30 per cent and probably would not be anything to do with the takeover code given that that company is a private Bahamas-based entity.”

When it comes to prospective buyers, Amanda Staveley’s company PCP International Finance had been reported as a potential suitor. But PCP released a statement shortly afterwards saying they did not intend to make a bid for Tottenham.