Kieran Maguire issues ‘£1bn’ West Ham claim after takeover fee ‘already agreed’ with Kretinsky
Daniel Kretinsky will have “already agreed” a set price for a full takeover at West Ham.
So says finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the new co-owner’s ambitions at the London Stadium.
The Czech billionaire purchased a 27 per cent stake in the Hammers on 10 November for a fee believed to be between £150million and £200m.
The Guardian reported last Friday (26 November) that Companies House documents revealed that Kretinsky has agreed an option for a full buyout.
Maguire suggests that the 46-year-old will have struck a pre-emptive deal with fellow major stakeholders David Gold and David Sullivan.
“A full deal is certainly the intention,” he told Football Insider correspondent Adam Williams.
“The full deal hasn’t gone through yet because if Kretinsky takes more than 30 per cent immediately, some of the profits go to the owners of the stadium.
“This is a cash-efficient and tax-efficient way of protecting Kretinsky. He will have already agreed price he can pay.
“The whole point of having an option is having an option at a fixed price.
“If West Ham get into Europe, the £600m price we’re talking about at the moment could go to £1billion.
“Instead of that, this gives protection for a potential buyer by having an option at a pre-determined price.
“Kretinsky doesn’t have to take on that risk and Gold and Sullivan get a tax-efficient deal.”
West Ham are aiming high in the Premier League this season and are currently 4th heading into the festive period.
Champions League qualification would be a welcome leg-up for the East London club who posted a £65.3m shortfall in their last set of accounts.
In other news, pundit tips Declan Rice to quit West Ham and join “top-four” club after confession.