West Ham are  at the centre of reports that Qatari Sheikh Jassim will consider buying  the club if his attempts to takeover Manchester United fail.

After making four bids to take control of Old Trafford he is now allegedly eyeing the Hammers  as the Glazers look to potential investors at United  but it remains the unfavoured outcome from the US family.

According to Spanish outlet El Pais the Sheikh has his sights on taking over another Premier League club, reporting that the Sheikh’s Qatar Investment Bank are “beginning to assess other entry options in the Premier League.”

The report claims that “their first alternative is to buy West Ham, which together with Tottenham, is the club with the most fans [stadium capacity] in London.

“West Ham guarantees a full house every weekend.”

Currently, however, with the late David Gold and daughter Jacquie’s  shares unavailable whilst probate continues there can be no bid or acceptance and that scenario could continue for up to a year.

Whether West Ham fans and the board would be keen on an owner with Quatari links is another question which raises its head following a similar takeover at Newcastle

By Hughie Southon