Stefan Borson

Mon 24 February 2025 9:30, UK

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy and Man United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe have both come under fire at their respective clubs in recent months.

Spurs and United sit 12th and 15th in the Premier League table respectively in the 2024-25 campaign with 12 games left to play this term.

The north London club are linked with Ratcliffe’s INEOS petrochemical empire – who are Tottenham’s official hand sanitiser and 4×4 vehicle partners.

That partnership started in 2019 and was expanded in 2022 – and sees the INEOS brand displayed in the dugout of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

But as per the BBC (19 February), INEOS are in talks with Spurs about ending that sponsorship early as Ratcliffe pursues cost-cutting measures across his empire.

INEOS could pay big-money Tottenham termination fee

The British billionaire took a minority stake at Man United in February 2024 and is now in control of football operations at Old Trafford.

He has already ended a sponsorship deal with New Zealand Rugby despite being in a long-term contract, while INEOS has parted ways with sailing legend Sir Ben Ainslie in recent months.

Former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider that Tottenham will not be left “out of pocket” if INEOS walk away from the deal.

He claimed Levy will be uneasy about their partnership with Ratcliffe’s empire now he is in control at Man United.

However, Borson insisted Tottenham will likely make more money than expected – if they can find a replacement for INEOS.

He told Football Insider: “Levy is in the driving seat, he’s got a contract.

“But, I doubt he likes having INEOS having plastered on the side of the pitch when they own 25% of United now.

“I doubt it’s ideal, but it’s cash. Unless Levy can find someone to replace INEOS, I doubt he will play ball.

“The most likely scenario is that Spurs have someone in mind to take on the asset, the sponsorship, and they will effectively replace INEOS with them having to pay some sort of termination fee.

“Spurs will probably want to get to a position where they make a bit of money, but I think it is possible that everyone can be happy with the scenario.

“There could be a termination fee paid which gives Tottenham a bit of upside early on, and they then go and find a replacement for INEOS.

“The bottom line is that Spurs won’t be out of pocket here. There’s no way they will let a company like INEOS walk away from a sponsorship agreement.

“Tottenham have done nothing wrong and have filled their part of the bargain.”

‘Levy could take new role at Tottenham’

Football Insider has been told by ex-Everton CEO Keith Wyness (20 February) that new investors could move Levy into a “business affairs” role at Tottenham.

It has been widely reported in the last 12 months that the long-serving chairman is in talks to sell a minority stake in Tottenham – a move which would value the club at around £3.75billion.

The 63-year-old took up his current role in 2001 and is the longest-serving chairman in the Premier League.

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