Tottenham ‘offered Harry Kane sweetener’ – the ‘documents have just arrived in my inbox’
Audi was prepared to offer Tottenham a sweetener in Bayern Munich’s deal to sign Harry Kane after new documents have been revealed.
Spurs are currently locked in a legal battle with INEOS after the petrochemicals company exited a sponsorship deal with the club three years into a five-year agreement.
INEOS, which is spearheaded by Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, first partnered with Tottenham in 2020 after agreeing to become their official hand sanitiser and 4×4 vehicle partners before the deal was expanded in 2022.
Tottenham are seeking just over £11million, which includes £5.5million for missed payments last year, another £5.3milllion for the 2026-27 campaign, the final year of the sponsorship deal, and an additional £300,000 in interest.
Tottenham legal battle takes new twist after INEOS reveal
This article contains exclusive comment from Stefan Borson, a former financial adviser to Man City.
The Telegraph reported on 20 August INEOS is counter-suing Tottenham for more than £1million after accusing them of holding sponsorship talks with German manufacturer Audi linked to the sale of Kane to Bayern Munich.
In a counter-claim submitted to the High Court, the British firm said: “The particulars of claim make no mention of a highly significant series of events by which the club, unbeknown to INEOS, started negotiating with a major competitor to INEOS with the intention of granting rights to that competitor which were exclusive to INEOS under the agreement.”
It added: “On or around 3 August 2023 (i.e. early in contract year two), Todd Kline of the club indicated to Ashley Reed of INEOS that the club had been in discussions with the German car manufacturer Audi AG in connection with rights which were the same as, or substantially similar to, the rights granted to INEOS under the agreement and/or the club had been negotiating with Audi in respect of rights which were exclusive to INEOS under clause 4 of the agreement. According to Mr Kline, the discussions and/or negotiations related to a proposed transfer of the club’s player Harry Kane to the German club FC Bayern Munich.”
Kane joined the Bundesliga champions in a £100million deal on 12 August 2023.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Borson said: “Unfortunately, the £33 that I spent to download the pleadings in that case have only just arrived in my inbox.
“I’ve not yet digested them. But it appears that there are some interesting commercial details disclosed in there, including that Audi, as an 8 per cent shareholder of Bayern Munich, were prepared to sweeten the Kane deal by offering a sponsorship with Tottenham, which is an interesting connection that we weren’t previously aware happened within these transfer deals.
“So, I’m intrigued to read what INEOS claim in terms of that situation. But these are all the usual types of allegations, defences and counter-allegations that are made before parties settle. I wouldn’t imagine this is going to end up in court.
“I think both teams have invested in lawyers to draft some compelling pleadings, but I’d fully expect a settlement over the next few months, probably after a mediation on this matter.
“So, we won’t find out very much more of the juicy details within a court judgment, unfortunately, because those are usually quite insightful in terms of the commercial processes within organisations, because if there’s one place you can’t really lie about how your processes work or the negotiations you had or the size of contracts, it is in court.
“So, when you then get those judgments, they tend to have information that’s true and insightful.”
Tottenham in preliminary discussions over Morgan Rogers deal
In terms of transfer activity, Football Insider revealed on 25 August Tottenham are readying a late-window move to sign Morgan Rogers after holding preliminary discussions over his availability.
The England international has been a standout player for Aston Villa since joining in a deal worth £8million plus a potential £7million in add-ons from Middlesbrough in January 2024.
Rogers, who registered 14 goals and 16 assists last season, has played the full 90 minutes in both of Villa’s opening two games of the new Premier League campaign.
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