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A top source close to West Ham’s owners has revealed that a big rumour currently circulating is seriously unsettling the club’s stars.
There is rarely a dull moment when it comes to West Ham United.
Even during the dreaded international break.
And this week has been no different.
Reports emerged that Hammers star Lucas Paqueta faces new charges in the FA spot-fixing case against him.
But the very future of the football club has also been the subject of high-profile claims.
West Ham may not always have the best team on the pitch.
But in terms of support the Irons take some beating.
Recently West Ham were named in a new UEFA report as part of their “1 million crowd club”.
Massive West Ham in need of a massive takeover?
Just 16 clubs feature in the elite group and the Hammers are among them.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
The group factors in capacity and a percentage filled of capacity for all games from league to domestic cups and European competition.
And West Ham, with an official capacity of 62,549 at the London Stadium, are eighth in the table with a 97 per cent full capacity ratio and a whopping total of over 1.5million.
The east Londoners sit behind only Roma, Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan and Manchester United.
There are even plans to increase capacity to 66,000 in the coming seasons.
So West Ham truly are massive everywhere they go.
That’s true when it comes to finances too.
Rumour circulating is seriously unsettling West Ham stars
As revealed by Hammers News, West Ham now have the third richest owners in the Premier League after Daniel Kretinsky’s net worth doubled to nearly £13bn in the last year.
Given the huge following and potential of the club, the likes of Ray Parlour have urged David Sullivan to sell up.
In the wake of Parlour’s call for West Ham to be sold, former Aston Villa CEO Keith Wyness claimed on a podcast that West Ham were the next club on the rank set for a full takeover.
Wyness even suggested talks about a takeover were already taking place.
Now a board confidant says the rumour circulating is seriously unsettling West Ham stars.
While some fans may want to see the Hammers taken over, others are happy with the progress being made in recent years.
Particularly since Kretinsky spend £150m to buy 27 per cent of the club in 2021 – becoming West Ham’s second biggest stakeholder in the process.
Sean Whetstone is close to West Ham majority owner Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady.
He spoke to his sources on the board and has set the record straight on the claims.
Not only are Wyness’ claims ‘completely untrue’ but it is starting to impact the team.
Senior Hammers source says takeover claim is ‘made up’
“Senior club sources have denied that West Ham are in takeover talks insisting that recent reports suggesting the opposite are made up and are unsettling for the club, players and staff,” Whetstone states on Claret and Hugh.
Whetstone’s source also clarified the exact situation among West Ham’s ownership.
“Daniel Krenitsky has no exclusive ‘put and call option’ on other West Ham shares that no other shareholders have access to,” the source told Whetstone.
“If/when the Gold family sell shares, we all have matching rights pro rata to our existing shareholder structure.
“The recent article about a West Ham takeover is made up and quite unsettling for the club, its players and staff. There are no discussions.”
West Ham have been the fifth biggest spenders in the Premier League since Kretinsky’s arrival.
In a rare TV interview back in June, Kretinsky said his heart is fully with West Ham.
So much so he would be open to increasing his stake in the club if the opportunity arises.
| Premier League’s richest owners | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Club | Owner(s) | Net worth |
| 1 | Newcastle United | Saudi Public Investment Fund, RB Sports & Media, PCP Capital Partners | £478billion |
| 2 | Man United | Glazer Family, Sir Jim Ratcliffe | £19.2billion |
| 3 | West Ham | David Sullivan, Daniel Kretinsky, Vanessa Gold, Tripp Smith | £14.06billion |
| 4 | Aston Villa | Wes Edens, Nassef Sawiris | £13.8billion |
| 5 | Man City | Abu Dhabi United Group, Silver Lake | £12.9billion |
| 6 | Chelsea | Todd Boehly, Hansjorg Wyss, Mark Walter | £12.21billion |
| 7 | Ipswich | Gamechanger 20 Ltd | £10.8 billion |
| 8 | Arsenal | Stan Kroenke | £9.97billion |
| 9 | Liverpool | John W. Henry, Tom Werner | £7.57billion |
| 10 | Fulham | Shahid Khan | £6.1billion |
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