Keith Wyness drops stunning ‘£2bn’ West Ham takeover claim
West Ham could soon be the subject of takeover interest after reports have emerged around Daniel Kretinsky selling his stake.
The Premier League side’s hierarchy has come under fire in recent years after fans have vented their frustrations at the way David Sullivan and Karren Brady are running the club.
Kretinsky bought a 27 per cent stake for around £200million in November 2021 and was expected to pursue a full takeover further down the line.
Under the terms of West Ham’s move to the London Stadium, their owners were liable to pay a punitive financial penalty to the government if the club were sold for more than £300million.
However, that clause expired two years ago and Kretinsky hasn’t pursued a full takeover deal.
TBR Football reported on 21 March Kretinsky is exploring the possibility of selling his stake at the London Stadium.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – revealed West Ham could be worth up to £2billion if a takeover deal were to take place.
Wyness previously told Football Insider a full West Ham takeover could be on the cards in the near future.
Alongside Kretinsky’s 27 per cent, Sullivan currently holds a 38.8 per cent share in the club, while Vanessa Gold’s stake is worth 25.1 per cent and Albert “Tripp” Smith retains an eight per cent shareholding at the London Stadium.
West Ham ownership situation ‘one to watch’
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted West Ham’s ownership situation is “one to watch”.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “It’s going to be a big number for West Ham.
“We saw the Chelsea thing. We know that Spurs are rumoured at sort of the £4-5billion mark, so West Ham isn’t going to be far away from something like £2billion.
“It’s frightening when we think of these sorts of numbers when I just remember even I think four years ago, I was part of a group that put a bid in for £450million for West Ham, so here we are four times that amount.
“I think it may be a bigger view for West Ham rather than just Kretinsky.
“But if it is Kretinsky that sells his percentage, then I think it would be somebody that’s coming in with a view to buying bigger percentages going forward in installments possibly.
“I think the ownership situation at West Ham is definitely one to watch at the moment.”
West Ham ready Jonathan David offer after talks revealed
Former London Stadium senior scout Mick Brown told Football Insider West Ham are ready to make Jonathan David an offer after talks have taken place behind the scenes.
The 25-year-old will be available on a free transfer when his Lille contract runs out on 30 June, with Newcastle United also interested in the forward.
| Appearances | 41 |
| Goals | 23 |
| Assists | 10 |
The Canada international has registered 23 goals and 10 assists in 41 appearances for the Ligue 1 side this season.
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