Tottenham: Daniel Levy close to £13.3million payday after what happened on Thursday
Tottenham and Daniel Levy could soon find themselves doing the most unimaginable thing – thanking West Ham United.
West Ham are arguably one of Spurs’ fiercest rivals with very few pleasantries usually exchanged between the two sets of supporters when the London rivals meet each season.
However, when Ange Postecoglou takes his players to the London Stadium next month (2 April), Spurs supporters might owe their hosts a thank you.
That is because as a result of the Hammers thrashing Bundesliga outfit SC Freiburg 5-0 in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League Round of 16 clash on Thursday (14 March), it is now a near-guarantee that 5th place in this season’s Premier League will qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Due to the reform of the competition, 36 teams will compete in the group stages of next season’s Champions League, as opposed to 32. Two leagues will be awarded an extra place in the competition as a result of performances in Europe this season, which is measured by the UEFA coefficient rankings.
England are currently third, trailing Germany in second. However, after West Ham’s win over Freiburg to advance to the last eight of the Europa League, there are now five English teams left in European competitions, as opposed to three from Germany.
Teams are awarded points based on wins and progression in their European competitions, and with England breathing down the neck of Germany with two extra teams positioned to pick up points, it now looks incredibly likely that Tottenham won’t need to make the top four to qualify for the Champions League.
With Spurs currently fifth in the Premier League, six points ahead of Manchester United with a game in hand, they will feel confident of at least finishing in the top five, which could bring some welcome financial rewards for Levy and the club.
Daniel Levy close to multi-million payday at Tottenham after West Ham win against SC Freiburg
Rooting for their Premier League rivals in Europe might feel wrong to some Spurs supporters, but for Levy, he will be keen for English teams to go as far as possible due to the large payday it could lead to in North London.
According to official UEFA figures (7 July 2023), teams who qualified for the group stages of this season’s Champions League were awarded £13.3million, with £2.3million up for grabs for each win and £794,000 awarded for each draw.
It means Levy and Spurs would stand to gain a minimum of £13.3million should they qualify for the 2024/25 Champions League, with more money being paid out the further a team progresses in the competition.
Spurs would make an extra £8.2million for reaching the Round of 16, £9million for making it to the quarter-finals, £10.6million for reaching the final four and a further £13.2million if they were to repeat their heroics from the 2018/19 season and reach the final.
That is a total of £54.3million available to teams who go all the way, and that is before broadcasting and coefficient-related payments are distributed.
It is clear how lucrative competing in the Champions League can be, and therefore why Levy and Tottenham supporters will have found themselves cheering on West Ham this week for perhaps the first time ever.
In other Tottenham news, a pundit believes that clubs will already be “watching” one Spurs star ahead of a potential summer switch.
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