Many West Ham fans have been hoping they are the Premier League club who have reached out to a billionaire for investment amid takeover speculation.
With 25 per cent of West Ham up for sale, speculation has been rife of major new investment in east London.
The Gold family stake in the Hammers was floated for sale in October 2023.
But the estate of former co-owner David Gold has only just exited probate, meaning it can now be sold to any interested parties.
West Ham confirmed early talks with a mystery US bidder earlier this month.
West Ham takeover talk ramps up amid US interest
Three names were said to be in the frame for the Hammers, including global superstar turned investor Shaquille O’Neal.
A top club source then claimed Chelsea part-owner Mark Walter may be involved in a West Ham bid which would see current Hammers stakeholder Albert ‘Tripp’ Smith lead a full takeover coup from the inside.
Next it was US billionaire Woody Johnson linked with a full West Ham takeover last week.
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A member of the founding family of Johnson and Johnson and co-owner of the NFL team New York Jets, Johnson has a personal net wealth in excess of £2.5bn and owns large office complexes in London reportedly worth over £300m too.
Photo by James Chance/Getty Images
Photo by James Chance/Getty Images
His family also owns shares in Johnson and Johnson – which is worth an estimated £267bn.
As well as the Gold family stake being for sale, it has been reported that Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky who owns 27 per cent of West Ham, is considering selling his stake too.
With West Ham enduring a shocking season and now pleading poverty ahead of a crucial summer transfer window, pressure is building on the owners – and particularly majority stakeholder David Sullivan.
Some Hammers fans have launched a petition for Sullivan to sell up and leave West Ham which has nearly 4,000 signatures.
Billionaire tells Jordan which two clubs he’s eyeing
When the Gold family stake was initially put up for sale it was claimed there was interest from Saudi and the Middle East as well as the US.
A leading Times journalist revealed there could be a change of ownership at West Ham in an update last month.
Further pressure piled on Sullivan after a shock Millwall Saudi takeover revelation last week.
It was claimed famous billionaire Turki Alalshikh – who has become the face of boxing – is at the centre of a potential deal to buy West Ham’s rivals.
Turki Alalshikh has a personal net worth of around £2.5bn – but access to much more with his Saudi and sporting connections, which include being an advisor to Newcastle owner Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Millwall denied talks had been held and Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekol claimed a Premier League club had approached Turki Alalshikh.
It was also reported the billionaire has been looking to invest in an English club for around two years.
That led West Ham fans to hope it was them given that at least a quarter of the club is up for sale.
Now the billionaire has told Simon Jordan which two clubs he’s eyeing amid the West Ham takeover hopes.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Jordan has revealed it is ‘not just talk’ because Turki Alalshikh has told him personally which clubs he is looking to pour money into.
West Ham’s Turki Alalshikh hopes dashed
And it’s bad news for Hammers fans who were hoping it might be them. Even though it’s been revealed he only wants a club in the south.
Because it seems two Championship sides are a more attractive proposition for the Saudi billionaire’s investment.
Although Jordan has tried to talk him out of buying into Millwall.
“It’s not just talk because they’ve told me,” Jordan said.
“I mean I’ve told them and tried to talk them out of Millwall because I don’t think it’s a proper football club, but that’s a different discussion.
“But it is Millwall – and he likes Southampton.
“I suggested Sheffield Wednesday to him, he doesn’t want Sheffield Wednesday. He doesn’t want a club in the north, he wants a club in the south.
“And Millwall and Southampton are the two clubs that he thinks are interesting to him.”
West Ham fans hoping for new ownership will now be looking to US bidders to come good.