Any interest in West Ham United from former Newcastle United boss Amanda Staveley should be taken very seriously indeed.
This morning, Claret & Hugh spoke to an external source with good links to the club who described Staveley as “a very serious player”.
Staveley track record demands attention
Best known for brokering the 2021 deal which saw a Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle from Mike Ashley, Staveley served as co-owner and director until her departure in the summer of 2024.
What is lesser known about the 53-year-old is that she also played a pivotal role in brokering the 2008 takeover of Manchester City by Sheikh Mansour.
Therefore, when discussing potential interest in West Ham, Staveley really does have to be taken seriously because she has history when it comes to two of the biggest takeovers the Premier League has seen.
Funding claims add intrigue
Staveley is believed to have secured a £2 billion consortium backed by American investment capital, although it should be noted it would take nowhere near that amount to buy the Hammers from David Sullivan.
Earlier this year, reports suggested she had raised approximately £500 million in initial capital through PCP Capital Partners.
West Ham shareholder link could matter
She has also been linked with current West Ham shareholder Albert Tripp-Smith, who was the co-founder of GSO Capital Partners.
Tripp-Smith owns 8% of West Ham, and any potential takeover of the club by Staveley would likely involve the Texan.
No doubt, in a couple of hours, Mr Whetstone will come along and shoot these rumours down in flames with his big bucket of cold water
⚒️😂 You might well be right mate. Sullivan looks to be increasing his shareholding rather than moving on which is a shame. I still think the best chance of him selling is for us to stay up.
Maybe he is increasing his shareholding Gonzo, knowing in the background, there is a buyer, and maximising his own profits if he has more shares ?