‘Myth’ – Former Premier League club owner makes claim about Daniel Levy

Simon Jordan has dismissed notions that Daniel Levy is a great negotiator and someone who is difficult to do business with, as nothing but a myth.

The Tottenham chairman certainly has a reputation that precedes him due to the way he has acted in his two decades at the helm of the North London club.

Feats such as selling Gareth Bale for a then world-record transfer fee to Real Madrid (BBC Sport) and Sir Alex Ferguson’s description of the negotiations over Dimitar Berbatov’s move to Old Trafford in 2008 as being “more painful” than his hip replacement (Mirror) have certainly helped build an aura around Levy.

The Spurs chairman also has a reputation of pushing for every penny during negotiations, famously even billing former Zagreb chief Zdrvako Mamic for the Luka Modric shirts that he requested following Tottenham’s signing of the Croat in 2008 (Daily Mail).

However, Jordan has insisted that neither the positive things said about Levy’s negotiating prowess, nor the negative reputation regarding how difficult he is to deal with, are true.

The former Crystal Palace owner told talkSPORT: “There is a myth about Daniel. He’s not the best transfer dealing guy in the world.

“He’s not the most difficult chairman to deal with. When you have someone that everyone wants, like Gareth Bale, then it’s not hard to hold your price.

“When you then get that money, look at the transfer dealings. The £90 million he spent on the Gareth Bale money went on rubbish. Then you look at Daniel’s ability to lever smaller club, that’s not dealing.

“That is just the opportunity you are in. If you are in a situation where Tottenham are a bigger club than MK Dons, you can use that influence to turn people’s heads.

“He’s neither a curmudgeon nor a chairman that doesn’t want to spend money. And he’s also not a great deal-maker either. He is just a football club chairman that people have built up to a myth.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Jordan’s point is a valid one and he would certainly know better than any of us, having collaborated with Levy during his time as Palace’s owner.

However, it is not completely fair to criticise Levy for Tottenham’s poor recruitment in the past.

The decision regarding the targets is usually made by the manager or director of football in place, with the Spurs chairman usually just being involved in the negotiations.

It was Franco Baldini who was the man in charge, along with head coach Andre Villas-Boas, when Spurs wasted some of the Bale money on poor singings.

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