Spurs Chief Levy Calls For Change, But Stands Accused Of 'Hypocrisy Personified' By Sevilla

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Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has demanded a change to the way the current transfer window works, after seeing striker’s Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane leave White Hart Lane this summer for Manchester United and Liverpool respectively.

“I have already stated my opinion on the manner in which our players were approached and the nature of the negotiations surrounding Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov,'” Levy told the official Spurs website on Tuesday.

“Yesterday's events were further evidence of the need for the Premier League to review the system.”

The £30.75million deal for Berbatov went through with just minutes to spare on Monday, with Fraizer Campbell joining Tottenham on loan as part of the deal for the Bulgarian International.

This was after United had made a summer long pursuit of Berbatov, which led Levy to lodge a formal complaint with the Premier League. This was dropped as part of the Berbatov deal also. Spurs also made a complaint about Liverpool’s approach of Robbie Keane, but this was also dropped when the Reds made a donation to the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation charity and apologised.

Levy claims that the departure of the forwards had caused Spurs to change their plans in the transfer market.

“There are no guarantees in football and this summer we found ourselves having to deal with the unexpected challenge of both our leading goalscorers making it clear they wished to leave the club,'” Levy added.

The chairman also backed manager Juande Ramos for leaving Berbatov out of the last two Spurs squads.

“Juande was clear, and I believe correct, in not wishing to embrace any player within the dressing room that had no desire to play for the badge of this club and for his teammates,”

‘Under these circumstances we had no option but to sell these players.”

However, there has been little sympathy for the North London club from Ramos’ former employers Sevilla, with president Jose Maria Del Nido accusing Levy of double standards.

“It is hypocrisy personified Tottenham are complaining about things they have done themselves,” Del Nido said.

“They took away our manager and now they are complaining that others are trying to take their players. Their style is demonstrated by the way they contracted Ramos.”