A consortium led by former Newcastle United co-owner Amanda Staveley has held talks over the purchase of a 25% stake in Championship club West Ham United.
The investment group, which also includes Staveley's husband, Mehrdad Ghodoussi, has expressed firm interest in acquiring Vanessa Gold's shareholding, with discussions gathering momentum in recent weeks.
Staveley is understood to have secured backing from international investors as the consortium looks to finalise a deal.
According to sources, the group first explored the possibility of investing in West Ham towards the end of last season, which concluded with the Hammers' relegation from the Premier League.
The consortium is also believed to be open to acquiring additional shares in the future, potentially paving the way for a controlling stake in the club.
David Sullivan and Daniel Kretinsky remain West Ham's largest shareholders.
Staveley and Ghodoussi previously owned a stake in Newcastle United before selling their shares and departing the club in July 2024. She was also linked with a consortium that explored a potential takeover of Tottenham Hotspur last season.
The proposed investment comes just months after Sullivan stepped down as West Ham's joint chairman following a joint investigation by BBC Panorama and The Times into allegations concerning his conduct.
Multiple women have accused the billionaire businessman of abusing his position and preying on them for sex, with some alleging the incidents occurred when they were teenagers. The investigation featured allegations from seven women spanning several decades, beginning in the 1980s, when they were aspiring models seeking work at Sullivan's Daily Sport and Sunday Sport newspapers.
The women allege Sullivan engaged in sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour, including pressuring them for sexual acts during business meetings while offering to advance their careers.
Sullivan, 77, has categorically denied all of the allegations.
The Independent Football Regulator (IFR) has contacted West Ham regarding what it described as "extremely serious allegations" and said it is seeking urgent information from Sullivan as part of its assessment of his suitability for a role within the club.
