A sensational new development at Spurs could have major implications for West Ham and hand David Sullivan the perfect exit strategy.
It could be third time lucky for West Ham United if under-fire David Sullivan takes a huge opportunity that has presented itself over at bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Five years ago Sullivan confirmed he rejected a £650m bid from Red Bull for the Hammers.
PSG’s Qatari owners also saw an offer for West Ham knocked back in 2023.
That very same group have been linked with a takeover at Tottenham Hotspur since then – and they’re not alone following the departure of chairman Daniel Levy.
West Ham fans are protesting for Sullivan and the board to sell up and ship out of the club after a vote of no confidence in the ownership last month.
Protesting Hammers fans won’t stop until Sullivan and co sell up
Supporters were given hope their activism will eventually achieve that when Levy stood down at Tottenham after years of their fans campaigning for his departure.
Hugely unpopular Hammers vice-chair Karren Brady insisted West Ham’s owners are not going anywhere when fan anger bubbled back to the surface following a 3-0 drubbing at Sunderland to open the new season.
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But that was before the huge new uprising among supporters who are boycotting the home game against Brentford after the international break to make their point.
It has become increasingly clear that a West Ham takeover is the only viable long-term solution to the mess in east London.
There is no way back for Sullivan and Brady and Daniel Kretinsky has no interest in increasing his Hammers stake.
Potential interest in West Ham from US bidders at the end of last season has come to nothing.
Yet the moment Levy left Tottenham, three bidders were immediately in the running – one of which were looking at West Ham too.
A potential mystery investor was given a tour of West Ham’s facilities, including the Rush Green training ground, recently.
The tour, believed to have been conducted by Brady and sporting director Mark Noble, was allegedly for a potential investor interested in buying the Gold family’s stake in the club.
Harry Redknapp has claimed David Sullivan will sell West Ham to rich new owners when he leaves.
Now a sensational new twist at Spurs could hand the Hammers chief that opportunity and a potential way out of the club that suits all parties.
Hammers News reported yesterday on a development at Tottenham which was a crushing blow to West Ham’s hopes of new investment that would lead to a big takeover.
Sensational Spurs twist could offer Sullivan a West Ham exit
Following Levy’s exit, one of the expressions of interest in buying Spurs came from Amanda Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners.
Tottenham ownership announced the club were not for sale, though. And that piled pressure on Sullivan and co given PCP’s links with West Ham.
Staveley’s consortium was heavily linked with a West Ham takeover last season.
The former Newcastle chief put together a consortium using the funds raised when selling the Magpies on to the Saudi PIF and is said to have a reported £500m kitty to buy an “in” at another Premier League club.
Staveley helped set up the Man City takeover before then arranging the Saudis to make Newcastle the world’s richest sports team overnight.
A leading West Ham board source close to Sullivan claimed last season that the Staveley-led fund could buy into West Ham instead of Spurs.
But the mega-rich financier made a choice between Spurs and West Ham, opting for the north Londoners following Levy’s exit.
The family of Tottenham owner Joe Lewis hosted Staveley as a special guest at Tottenham’s stadium for the NFL at the weekend, sparking fresh claims a takeover was still on the cards.
There is new hope for the Hammers overnight, though.
Because leading Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekol has revealed Staveley will have to look elsewhere to buy into another Premier League club.
That’s after Tottenham and Staveley once again confirmed they are definitely not doing a deal.
West Ham-linked Staveley hunting new club after Spurs confirmation
“Tottenham are not for sale,” Solhekol said in light of the fresh Staveley rumours following her guest appearance as Spurs hosted the NFL.
“There were three expressions of interest – of varying degrees of seriousness – in buying the club. As some Tottenham shares are still held by private investors, prospective bidders had to make their intentions clear, as set out in the Takeover Code.
“They have all now confirmed they will not be making bids.
“That means they cannot bid for six months – unless someone else enters talks about buying the club.
“The Lewis family are committed to owning Tottenham and are looking forward to a sustained period of stability and long-term success.”
Opportunities like this do not come around very often.
Staveley has a proven track record of spearheading hugely successful takeovers which have completely changed the fortunes of Premier League clubs who have spent most of their history in the shadows of others.
Staveley took Newcastle out of the hands of an owner who was reviled by their supporters and look at the Magpies now.
Throw in the fact that Staveley has already been linked with a move for the Hammers and Sullivan simply cannot afford to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Protesting Hammers fans are not going anywhere this time and won’t be placated by Nuno Espirito Santo leading the club out of relegation danger.
So Sullivan and co must make it clear to Staveley the club is available – and at a reasonable price – to end the misery for all concerned.