Tottenham: Daniel Levy set for England and Gareth Southgate fallout after lucrative Spurs announcement
Daniel Levy is set to disrupt Gareth Southgate’s England preparations for this summer’s European Championships to secure a lucrative payday at Tottenham.
While the majority of England’s stars switch their focus to the Euros in Germany following the conclusion of the Premier League season, James Maddison will still have Tottenham duties to attend to.
That is because Spurs announced this week that they would be heading on a post-season trip to Australia for Global Football Week in Melbourne.
Their trip Down Under will culminate in a post-season friendly with Premier League rivals Newcastle United at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday 22 May, three days after Spurs’ final league fixture is scheduled to take place against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane (19 May).
Ange Postecoglou’s Australian links, and the MCG’s ability to hold up to 100,000 spectators, could make this a very lucrative trip for Tottenham and Levy.
However, this has not gone down well with England boss Southgate.
As per the Daily Mail (page 76, 22 March), both Tottenham and Newcastle expect all of their stars to travel to Australia, which includes Maddison, who will be in contention for a spot on the plane to Germany.
Both clubs view the trip as “key to commercial gains”, with the game doing very little other than lining Levy’s pockets.
It is understood that Southgate is unlikely to be pleased by the news from Spurs and the Magpies.
With Southgate set to name his provisional squad on 21 May, and the England players to gather the following week before a friendly with Bosnia at St James’ Park on 3 June, Maddison could return a burnt-out version of his creative self.
Daniel Levy decision at Tottenham could anger both James Maddison and England manager Gareth Southgate
It is not hard to blame Southgate for feeling aggrieved by Levy’s decision.
Spurs’ trip to Australia does nothing but boost the club’s finances, with the outcome of Newcastle and Tottenham’s friendly clash likely to be of little interest to the club’s supporters, players or staff.
Not only will Southgate be frustrated by the number of players from both clubs who could return to England below 100 per cent, but Maddison himself might be feeling particularly annoyed that he will be offered very little rest before he looks to fight for his chances of lining up with England at the Euros.
A trip to Australia will be incredibly exhausting considering the time and effort it takes to make the journey, and Southgate will be left wondering why Maddison’s participation is necessary.
Supporters in the country are likely to flock to see Spurs play regardless of Maddison’s involvement due to their affection toward Postecoglou, with the 26-year-old midfielder’s involvement not entirely key.
Should anything happen to Maddison while he is away in Australia which hurts his chances of making Southgate’s squad, Levy’s popularity could once again take a hit not only among Spurs’ supporters and with Souhtgae but also with one of his own players.
In other Tottenham news, an ex-Spurs employee has admitted it doesn’t look good for one player at the club after an injury update emerged this week.
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