American rapper and businessman, Jay Z is reportedly plotting to buy Tottenham in a stunning £2.2 billion takeover.
This is coming after the British owner of the club, Joe Lewis pleaded not guilty to charges of insider trading after being arrested in the United States. Lewis was released on a 300 million dollar bond secured by his yacht and private aircraft.
An American publication, Daily Express US reported that Jay Z is preparing to bid for Tottenham Hotspur if the club’s owner is convicted of fraud and insider trading.
The 53-year-old rap icon who is worth in excess of £1.95billion, is backed by a group of US investors who are waiting in the wings to learn the fate of Spurs supremo Joe Lewis.
The move comes 13 years after Jay Z expressed interest in becoming a major investor in North London rivals Arsenal. He said at the time that he was a huge fan of the team then led by his favourite player, Thierry Henry.
That bid fell flat but Jay Z, already a joint-owner of top NBA basketball team New Jersey Nets said;
“I don’t know a lot about the business of soccer but in future, if the right opportunity presented itself, then who knows?”
His associate has said that the hip-hop billionaire whose wife Beyoncé has a personal fortune estimated at £420million, is still in love with England’s “beautiful game”.
He told Daily Express;
“More than a few of the very top clubs there – like Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea – are now under US ownership and Jay would jump at the chance of a controlling interest at board level somewhere with the global reach of Spurs.
“It remains to be seen whether Mr Lewis will walk away free. If he doesn’t, Jay has said he wants to be in a position to move quickly if he feels the price is right.
“He believes this is achievable, especially with the backing of fellow investors.”