West Ham United have been the subject of another takeover rumour this week.
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According to a report from the Daily Star, Damien Comolli is leading a consortium looking to buy a Premier League club, with West Ham being mentioned as a potential option.
Fresh speculation over a West Ham takeover has emerged from a number of different sources of late.
Another week, another West Ham takeover rumour
Since February there has been talk of various parties being interested in buying West Ham from unpopular co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold.
Speculation began four months back claiming American businessman and 10% West Ham stakeholder Albert Tripp Smith was seeking new Middle Eastern investment in the club.
Then in April Gold hit out after talk of takeover interest from Red Bull was linked to him (Claret & Hugh).
Last weekend a new report from The Daily Mail claimed Tripp Smith is putting together a US consortium with a view to buying a controlling interest in the Hammers.
Then last week yet more takeover speculation emerged as The Daily Star claimed a ‘high-powered’ Arab Emirates group was interested in buying West Ham.
West Ham ‘favourites’ for Comolli consortium takeover – report
Now The Daily Star claims West Ham are ‘the favourite of the options being explored by the Comolli consortium – as long as David Moyes’ men can survive relegation’.
The speculation has been encouraging for West Ham fans.
But no sooner had the news broke online than it was swiftly denied each time by well-placed insiders Claret & Hugh.
That was the case again as Claret & Hugh – who have a direct line to West Ham’s unpopular owners David Sullivan and David Gold – delivered their verdict on the Comolli reports.
But this time supporters noticed a caveat from the insiders which may leave the door open.
“Club insiders have again described all the take over rumours as pure nonsense saying there was been no contact or interest to buy West Ham recently,” Claret & Hugh state.
“The owners are thought to want offers in excess of £500m but any sale before March 2023 would involve them handing over millions to Government as part of the London Stadium concessionaire agreement and project Viper.
“There doesn’t appear to be any real substance in any of these take over rumours to date and it is largely just speculation.”
Insider denies new speculation but supporters notice encouraging caveat
Hammers fans were quick to point out the use of the words ‘appear’ and ‘largely just speculation’ as reason for hope.
In using those words, some West Ham fans believe there may be more to the latest rumours than meets the eye.
After all the takeover talk can’t be ‘complete nonsense’ AND ‘largely speculation’.
West Ham must focus on staying in the Premier League over the next month.
But beyond that it could certainly be interesting times with the prospect of any potential takeover on the horizon.
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