West Ham have responded to a claim that financier Amanda Staveley is preparing a takeover bid for the east Londoners – and it will interest her old club Newcastle United.
Former Newcastle chief Amanda Staveley is reportedly eyeing a West Ham takeover bid amid unrest at the London Stadium.
But she has also been linked with a potential return to Newcastle United if a deal cannot be done for the Hammers or they drop out of the Premier League.
On Sunday, it was claimed Staveley is putting together a ‘takeover team’ of US backers with eyes on West Ham or Newcastle if the Saudis decide to pull out of the club.
West Ham respond to whether Sullivan would sell to Staveley
Journalist Alan Nixon reported that Staveley is keeping a close eye on whether a deal can be done to buy West Ham and is not put off by the fact the Hammers would cost more than Newcastle due to her consortium’s preference for London.
Staveley is best known for being the key cog in setting up the Man City takeover before then arranging the Saudis to make Newcastle the world’s richest sports team overnight – on paper at least.
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Staveley is said to have her own £500m war chest after her role in selling the Magpies on to the Saudi PIF.
She has wanted in at another Premier League club ever since and saw talks with Spurs come to nothing earlier this season.
It was previously claimed that a Staveley-led fund could buy into West Ham instead of Spurs and that – or a return to the Toon – is her plan according to Nixon.
But now West Ham have responded to the Staveley takeover claim and what they have said will very much interest Newcastle.
Last week David Sullivan exclusively confirmed he was matching co-owner Daniel Kretinsky in buying some of the Gold family’s West Ham shares to increase his stake – like the Czech billionaire – to over 40 per cent.
One theory is that Sullivan and Kretinsky are increasing their stakes to make them more attractive and valuable to potential suitors when they come to sell.
Sullivan’s West Ham stance could push Staveley towards Newcastle return
It comes after the hasty exit of Karren Brady last week and amid season-long protests from disgruntled West Ham fans calling for new owners.
Hammers News put the Staveley takeover bid claim to the most senior spokesman for West Ham’s board.
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We asked whether there was any truth to reports and – more importantly – whether Sullivan in particular would entertain selling his shares if Staveley did bid.
West Ham’s response was emphatic and may just send Staveley in Newcastle’s direction.
“No, Sullivan would not entertain selling (to Staveley),” the senior West Ham spokesman exclusively told Hammers News.
“Mr Sullivan is buying more shares, not selling.”
That may not be what some Hammers fans want to hear.
Indeed it may not be what Newcastle supporters want to hear given Staveley is bringing a US consortium – which have had very mixed results in English football – to the table if she does move for the Magpies.
The closest West Ham have come to a takeover during Sullivan’s reign has been a confirmed bid from Red Bull.
In an official statement back in 2020, Sullivan confirmed he rejected a £650m offer from Red Bull for West Ham.
There have been rumours of Middle East and US interest in the Hammers since then, especially after Vanessa Gold put the Gold family’s 25 per cent stake up for sale in October 2023.
It was previously claimed PSG’s Qatari owners saw an offer for West Ham snubbed in 2023.
There was also reported interest in West Ham from US bidders last season – but none of it came to fruition.
That has been much to the frustration of Hammers fans who feel their club has so much untapped potential.
Although Newcastle have discovered how difficult it is to smash the glass ceiling due to football’s financial restrictions which do not allow mega rich owners to simply plough cash into clubs as spending is tied to income instead.
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