Excitement surged among West Ham fans this weekend following reports of a potential ambitious takeover of the club. West Ham has been the subject of takeover rumors in recent years, with speculation often surrounding the future ownership of the club.
There has been ongoing speculation about potential interest in West Ham from US, Saudi Arabian, and Qatari investors at various points, particularly since the passing of co-owner David Gold.
The club has experienced significant progress both on and off the pitch in recent years, further fueling interest from prospective buyers.
West Ham set a new club record for Premier League points and achieved European football for three consecutive seasons for the first time in their 129-year history.
Last summer, the Hammers ended a 43-year wait by winning their first major trophy, further cementing their progress. Off the pitch, the club is also among an elite group of 16 clubs named in UEFA’s “1 million gang,” recognizing their strong match attendance and growing fanbase.
West Ham ranks among the top 18 most lucrative football clubs globally and has been the fifth-highest spender in the Premier League over the past two years. Despite these achievements, many fans feel the club has the potential to reach even greater heights.
It’s not just the supporters who share this sentiment. Former Arsenal player Ray Parlour recently called on co-owner David Sullivan to sell the club, suggesting that new ownership could unlock even more success for the Hammers.
More West Ham takeover rumors have surfaced, with pundit and childhood Hammer Ray Parlour suggesting that new ownership could help the club realize its potential as a top-four contender.
Following Parlour’s remarks, former Aston Villa CEO Keith Wyness stated on a podcast that West Ham was the next club in line for a full takeover, even hinting that negotiations were already underway.
However, West Ham’s top executives quickly denied these claims, stating that the rumors were “unsettling players and staff.”
No sooner had West Ham’s executives denied recent takeover rumors than fresh claims surfaced. Reports have emerged that a £13bn mogul is preparing to launch a full takeover of the club.
Mick Brown, a former senior scout at West Ham until David Moyes’ departure, suggested that Daniel Kretinsky, who currently owns 27% of the club after a £150m investment in 2021, is planning to buy out David Sullivan and the other co-owners. Kretinsky’s net worth has doubled to £13bn over the past year, fueling speculation that he is gearing up for a complete takeover.
Kretinsky’s growing wealth has propelled West Ham to the third richest ownership in the Premier League, surpassing Aston Villa and Manchester City.
Mick Brown’s claim about Kretinsky’s potential full takeover has sparked excitement among some West Ham fans, who see this as a chance for the club to achieve even greater success.
Despite the buzz surrounding claims that £13bn investor Daniel Kretinsky is planning a full takeover of West Ham, Sean Whetstone, who has close connections to David Sullivan, has dismissed the rumors.
On X (formerly Twitter), Whetstone stated, “A senior club insider has denied a new West Ham takeover article made by an ex-West Ham employee,” clarifying that the story is not accurate according to his sources.
According to Sean Whetstone, Mick Brown, a former West Ham scout, claimed that co-chairman David Sullivan was unhappy with his position at the club and that a full takeover by Daniel Kretinsky and his Czech partners was likely. However, a senior club insider has denied this, stating that Brown has never spoken with Sullivan and that the story is false.
While Jack Sullivan did confirm that Kretinsky interviewed Tim Steidten before his appointment, the Czech billionaire reportedly maintains a hands-off approach at West Ham due to his chairmanship of Sparta Prague. Kretinsky aims to avoid any perception of conflict should the two clubs compete in the same European competition.
Kretinsky, who owns over 100 businesses, including a significant investment in Royal Mail, relies on trusted advisors to oversee his West Ham interests, preferring to focus his attention elsewhere.
Last year, football finance expert Kieran Maguire spoke to *Hammers News* about Daniel Kretinsky’s involvement with West Ham, revealing that the Czech billionaire had no plans for a full takeover of the club. Maguire explained that owning both West Ham and Sparta Prague would create complications with UEFA regulations.
In a rare TV interview in June, Kretinsky confirmed that while he is interested in increasing his stake in West Ham, he has no intention of pursuing full ownership. His focus remains on maintaining a balanced involvement, especially to avoid conflicts given his ownership of Sparta Prague.
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