| Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky is considering buying a minority share in West Ham United, according to The Athletic.
The 46-year-old is expected to buy a 27% share in the club and will bring an end to the ‘GSB’ era – named so because of their majority owners David Gold and David Sullivan, as well as Karren Brady. |
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| Kretinsky currently has stakes in British businesses J Sainsbury and Royal Mail. | |
Czech Billionaire Daniel Kretinsky in Talks Over West Ham StakeDetails of the Deal |
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| Advanced talks are underway between Kretinsky and West Ham for the Czech native to buy a 27% stake in the Hammers. | |
| This investment could be just what West Ham are looking for, with them challenging in the Europa League at the moment.
When asked about the rumours of a takeover from a Czech billionaire, David Moyes told the media: “It sounds as if something is happening.” However, the West Ham manager said that he is in the dark with talks involving Kretinsky and has only heard the same rumours that the public have. About Daniel KretinskyThe billionaire also owns Sparta Prague, the most decorated team in the Czech Republic. Nicknamed the ‘Czech Sphinx’, Kretinsky holds a share of Sparta Prague, with J&T Credit Investments co-owning the club. Kretinsky alone holds a 40% share in the Czech side, with J&T Credit Investments holding the remaining 60%. The 27% stake in West Ham may value the club at anywhere between £600 million and £700 million should it go through. The take-over will see the end of over decade-long ownership by David Gold and David Sullivan. The duo acquired the club in 2010 and have owned it for the past 11 years. The transaction is expected to be announced in the first weekend of November at the earliest. This follows on from the controversial Saudi-led take-over of Newcastle United earlier this month. It also comes after a small stake in Wolverhampton Wanderers changing hands in recent weeks. This initial stake may lead to a full-blown take-over in the future. Hammers Going Places Under Moyes |
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| West Ham’s form in Europe is very good this season, currently sitting top of their Europa League group. In these games, they also kept three clean sheets.
In his second spell at the club, David Moyes has got the team playing some of their best football in years, and achieving European football for the second consecutive season looks like a seriously attainable achievement. In the Premier League table, they are three points clear of fifth-place Manchester United and only sit five behind current leaders Chelsea. It’s no wonder interest in ownership has come in. If West Ham continue their upward trajectory, other investors may soon come calling. |
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