Qatar is said to have West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur in its sights for a possible takeover.
Could the next footballing superpower come from England’s capital?
Having already established Paris Saint-Germain as one of the continent’s strongest forces, Qatar now has London sides West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur in its sights, according to the Daily Mail, as the Gulf nation explores the possibility of buying a Premier League club.
The leader of the 2022 World Cup’s organising committee, Hassan Al-Thawadi, told the newspaper: “I can see it (a Qatari takeover) happening down the road.
“It’s likely. There’s such a passion for football and the Premier League in particular. Everyone on the street has an opinion.”
The report states that West Ham remain the most likely sellers – despite the denials of current owners David Sullivan and David Gold – adding that the Qatar Investment Authority would not be deterred by the New York investment bank’s £1 billion valuation of the Hammers.
The QIA already own the London 2012 Olympic Village, the same Stratford site on which West Ham’s London Stadium currently sits.
It is claimed that Tottenham are also being considered for ownership or naming rights sponsorship, having visited the Middle East for talks last year, according to Al-Thawadi.
Spurs are set to leave White Hart Lane for a new ground of their own in 2018, with Qatar Airlines and Aspetar – the world’s leading specialised orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital, based in Doha – linked with buying the naming rights.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
