West Ham could be set to land big American investment in more ways than one after an astonishing claim emerged overnight.
When a club insider revealed West Ham’s remaining transfer budget was just £51.5m earlier this week, fans were angry.
With Julen Lopetegui and Tim Steidten needing to make another six signings this summer, that will not go far.
Any player sales will contribute to the kitty.
But West Ham are hamstrung after their plan to sell Lucas Paqueta to Man City for £85m was scuppered again when he was officially charged by the FA over alleged involvement in spotfixing.
The club’s second biggest stakeholder, Daniel Kretinsky, recently committed his future to West Ham.
However, he also made it clear he has no desire for a full takeover or to significantly increase his stake.
West Ham are one of a handful of clubs who have been banging on – and knocking down – the door of the top six in recent years.
The Hammers finished sixth and seventh and challenged the top six again last season before falling away in the second half of the campaign.
Spending big and spend well in the transfer market is one way West Ham can bridge the gap to the top six.
But that has become increasingly difficult due to the Premier League’s much-criticised profit and sustainability rules (PSR).
Clubs are now having to tread very carefully and cut their cloth accordingly or risk points deductions and fines.
Vanessa Gold announced she was selling part or all of the Gold family shares in West Ham last October.
Since then it has been rumoured that West Ham are seeking new overseas investment to help them stay competitive with the leading clubs in the top flight.
It was claimed there is interest from the Middle East and the USA.
The Sun’s Matt Hughes reported earlier this month that West Ham are one of six Premier League clubs using advisers Rothschild and Co to bring in fresh funds in order to strengthen the squad without breaching PSR.
That was denied by the top spokesman at West Ham speaking exclusively to Hammers News.
The senior source claimed bringing in fresh investment is futile because PSR rules mean you can’t spend the money.
But there was an enormous claim from across the pond last night – quite literally.
And West Ham are set to land big American investment in more ways than one.
According to The Sun, basketball legend and 7ft 1in global superstar Shaquille O’Neal wants to invest in the Hammers.
It is claimed Shaq visited the London Stadium last season to watch a game and has been bitten by the football bug.
Not only does 52-year-old O’Neal want to invest in West Ham, he wants to invest big too, it is claimed.
“Shaq loves British football and he has been talking about putting some serious cash into the club,” a source told the paper.
“He went to a game at the end of the season and loved it. It’s now a case of whether the financials stack up for him.
“Shaq is really interested in what deal he could strike.”
O’Neal’s net worth is listed at