Three West Ham takeover clues emerge as £600m Daniel Kretinsky business deal now back on

Recent developments at West Ham United suggest that Daniel Kretinsky’s ambitions at the club may not be as straightforward as initially thought.

Despite having the option to complete a full takeover of the Hammers as part of his original agreement with the GSB regime for a 27% stake in 2021, Kretinsky has not exercised that option and has publicly tempered any expectations of a takeover.However, three recent clues suggest that a takeover may not be on the cards anytime soon. Firstly, West Ham are reportedly in talks with retired NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal about acquiring a stake in the club. While O’Neal’s net worth is less than £400m, making a full takeover impossible, he could acquire a minority stake and become an ambassador for the club overseas.Secondly, Kretinsky’s £600m takeover bid for French IT firm Atos is back on the cards after a rival offer collapsed.

The company is facing financial difficulties and would require huge capital investment and resources if Kretinsky takes control. This would be a significant undertaking and may indicate that Kretinsky’s priorities lie elsewhere.Lastly, Kretinsky’s bid for the purchase of the Royal Mail is set to go through, with the Czech billionaire offering workers a stake in the company to ease concerns about the £3.6bn takeover. Steering a British institution like the Royal Mail would require significant time and effort, leaving little room to concentrate on West Ham.

These developments suggest that Kretinsky’s focus may be on other business ventures rather than a West Ham takeover. The club’s owners, David Sullivan, Vanessa Gold, and Karren Brady, remain keen on taking on fresh investment, regardless of whether that is from Kretinsky or someone else.

A portion of Gold’s shares are up for sale, and Brady recently flew out to the Middle East to explore investment opportunities.While Kretinsky’s unpredictable approach to mergers and acquisitions means that a takeover cannot be ruled out entirely, these recent clues suggest that it may not be on the cards anytime soon. West Ham fans will be watching with interest as the situation develops.