Levy denies Spurs takeover talks

Tottenham Hotspur have spent several months denying rumours of prospective signings, especially strikers, but Venezuelan was one of the few natonalities that did not crop up on that lengthy catalogue. Now it has appeared at the top of a very short list, not of people the club might buy, but of those who might buy the club.

Like almost all of the suggestions of potential player signings, the notion that a Venzuelan businessman, Gustavo Cisneros, has been negotiating to buy White Hart Lane, fixtures and fit players included, was dismissed out of hand yesterday by Tottenham's chairman, Daniel Levy.

According to reports, the Venezuelan businessman, having been beaten to the punch by Roman Abramovich at Chelsea and subsequently lost interest in acquiring Aston Villa, has turned his attention to London N17, arranging a meeting with Levy next week.

"This story is complete rubbish and there are absolutely no talks planned, nor do we have any intention of holding such talks," was Levy's response to the report.

Denial was the order of the day yesterday, with Kevin Phillips' agent, Jon Smith, saying that, contrary to reports there was no progress being made in the potential transfer of the striker from Sunderland to Rangers. He said: "There is nothing happening at the moment. They do like him up there but the problem is the money Sunderland want for him. The only way it might happen is if Sunderland come down with their expectation which then might reach Rangers' valuation."

Any discussions about money and relative values between those two clubs promise to be complicated. Sunderland are trying to ease their financial burdens after relegation to the First Division and Rangers are loath to increase their debt, which stood at £52million last September.

Perhaps things will move if and when Sunderland finish paying for Tore Andre Flo, the goal-shy Norwegian forward who made the trip the other way during last season.