(Boursier.com) — The Premier League after PSG? Qatar, which has just hosted the most expensive World Cup of all time, is considering buying one of English football’s biggest clubs. Qatar Sports Investments chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi reportedly recently spoke with Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy about a possible stake in the London-based club.
According to ‘Bloomberg’ sources, QSI is also considering a full takeover or mere stake in Manchester United or Liverpool FC. The American Glazer family, owners of the Red Devils, are looking for an investor and may be ready to sell, while the owners of the Reds are also considering a sale. Deliberations are reportedly ongoing and could still fall through. Any potential deal – whether an outright takeover or a minority stake – would further cement Qatar’s strategy to invest in sports assets, partly to boost the country’s profile and also to invest its vast natural resource wealth.
Tottenham, which has one of the most modern stadiums in the world with a capacity of more than 60,000, is valued at just under 2 billion euros (1.8 billion pounds), according to Football Benchmark. Chelsea FC was sold for £2.5 billion last year to an American consortium. The Premier League already has two clubs in the hands of Middle Eastern businessmen, Manchester City belonging to Abu Dhabi’s City Football Group and Newcastle United recently acquired by a consortium backed by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund.
“There has been growing interest in English Premier League clubs looking to sell minority stakes,” Adam Sommerfeld, managing partner at Certus Capital Partners, told the agency. “Clubs have seen Manchester United and Liverpool start processes and are now responding by opening up to talks with investors.” Will Qatar give in to the sirens of the PL to compete every weekend with its Gulf neighbors?
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