Tottenham Hotspur, struggling at the foot of the English Premiership, could be about to buy a major foreign club.

The Sunday Telegraph claims the north London club has been holding talks with Anderlecht, Belgium's biggest club, about buying a majority stake.

Ironically Anderlecht, who are based in the Belgian capital Brussels, were Spurs' victims in the UEFA Cup Final in 1984.

The Telegraph claims Spurs, owned by Amstrad millionaire Alan Sugar, have been looking overseas for several months for a suitable acquisition and had also had talks with a leading Chinese team, Shanghai Shenua.

Champions 24 times

But when the negotiations broke down they turned their attention closer to home and settled on Anderlecht, who have been Belgian champions a record 24 times.

The report claimed no valuation had been put on the club but in return for its stake Spurs were willing to offer its merchandising and television expertise and would groom Anderlecht for listing on the Brussels stock market.

Conflict of interest

Tottenham Hotspur would not be the first company quoted on the London stock exchange to own stakes in foreign clubs.

The investment trust ENIC has shares in Vicenza of Italy, AEK Athens of Greece and Slavia Prague of the Czech Republic.

Despite the apparent conflict of interest -- Spurs could play Anderlecht in European cup competitions -- European football's governing body, UEFA, is not believed to have objected to the plan.
 

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