Actions speak louder than words. So while Daniel Kretinsky insists his aim is to keep West Ham United’s star players at the London Stadium, it remains to be seen if his bark is as strong as his bite.
Following relegation and the departure of chairman David Sullivan, Kretinsky spoke of his plans to ‘stabilise’ the Hammers and ‘retain as many of our key players as possible’.
This may be wishful thinking regarding the likes of Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville; Manchester United are reportedly keen to sign both, after all. But the pressure to sell a Tomas Soucek, a Dinos Mavropanos or even a Jarrod Bowen may no longer be quite so fierce.
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Kretinsky is increasing his share at West Ham United to 43 per cent. This means the Czech billionaire will inject £90 million into the club and easing concerns that relegation would have a disastrous effect on their finances.
Damaging, yes. But disastrous? Maybe not.
Daniel Kretinsky’s influence grows at West Ham United
“He’s got the wealth to be able to [take over the club], and now is the time perhaps to do it because West Ham are in distress,” former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan tells talkSPORT.
“They’re out of the Premier League. You can’t attach the same values to your shareholding as you once did previously, which is perhaps the reasons why he’s able to acquire the shares that Vanessa [Gold] had and build himself into a position.”
It is understood that Kretinsky was key to West Ham retaining Nuno Espirito Santo, despite Sullivan’s desire for a new face in the dugout. This is proof enough, as far as Jordan is concerned, to dispel concerns of any passivity on Kretinsky’s part.
Newcastle recruitment Steve Nickson is West Ham-bound now, too. Another big call ratified Kretinsky.
“The man’s a billionaire. Of course, he’s a remarkably successful man,” Jordan adds before shifting his focus to the future of skipper Bowen. “I don’t think [Kretinsky] has been passive, because apparently he was the intellectual capital behind Nuno Espirito Santo staying against David Sullivan’s wishes.
“So, he was already influential.
“But here they are in the Championship. For all those West Ham fans, it’s ‘anybody but Sullivan,’ right? So, this guy might well be something that they feel is a benefit to the football club.
“He’s saying in a joint statement that the goal is to stabilise West Ham, to retain as many of the key players as possible.
“He might be the difference. He might be the difference, now, between Jarrod Bowen staying or Jarrod Bowen going, because the PSR situation is going to be very significant to them.”
Simon Jordan thinks Jarrod Bowen could stay put
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A number of sources have indicated that Bowen is determined to stay and help West Ham bounce back from their first relegation in 14 years. The impact of a transfer on a players’ family cannot be underestimated. Teammate Tomas Soucek recently opened up on the need to balance personal factors with sporting ambitions.
So Bowen’s familial connections, plus the cash injection provided by Kretinsky, mean a sale which felt inevitable three weeks ago is no longer quite so certain.
“Someone’s got to pony up some money. That’s the first thing, to bridge the gap, which [Kretinsky] may well be prepared to do,” says Jordan, who oversaw Crystal Palace’s relegation in 2005.
“The second thing is they’ve got to meet financial obligations with budgetary requirements to the Championship.
“So with all that in mind, if he manages to keep Jarrod Bowen, it’s not beyond the wish of man. I kept [striker] Andrew Johnson, who was in the England team when we got relegated. So you can do it, but I would suggest that it’s against the likelihood.
“Maybe Danny Dyer has got more chance of keeping him because he’s married to his daughter!”
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