Billionaire linked with West Ham interest dies

An American billionaire linked with a possible interest in a West Ham takeover earlier this year has died his family have announced.

The Co-Founder of computer company Microsoft, Paul Allen died yesterday aged 65 after complications resulting from non-Hodgkin lymphoma which he recently announced had returned on social media.

The entrepreneur and sports enthusiast was the world’s 46th richest man worth over £15bn. He was also the owner of the Seattle Seahawks, MLS outfit Seattle Sounders and NBA team Portland Trail Blazers as part of his privately held company Vulcan Inc and was thought to be keen to add a Premier League club to his portfolio.

In 2016 West Ham visited Seattle and trained at the Seahawk’s VMAC training complex as part of their pre-season tour. The Hammers lost 3-0 to Seattle Sounders at CenturyLink Field during that tour. At the time of the rumour in May this year sources close to the club reiterated that the club was not for sale.