Hammers And The 49ers

Since taking over West Ham, or rescuing the club as they like it to be known, David Sullivan and the rest of the Hammers board have sanctioned the signing of NO less than 49 strikers! The counter has been stuck at 49 with a zero increase since David Moyes 'took over' the handling of transfers, with the Irons manager unrelenting in the pursuit of players HE wants, as opposed to the usual over priced tosh that the club have signed under their own guidance in the past, there is genuine hope that the signing of number 50 might be truly significant, in that a 'striker fit for purpose' might actually arrive at the London Stadium!

Of course due to the Hammers 'stealth attack' on the Barclays Premier League, the club are receiving even more media attention than normal, the club were already the 11th most mentioned club in the World! (source asset media and PR web). It was inevitable that the Declan Rice story would 'run out of legs' at some time, so certain media sources have decided to dig up a little bit of destabilising intrigue, co-incidentally involving Denise DeBartolo York, the owner of THE 49ers who apprently is actively involved in preparing a bid to buy West Ham.

The 49ers were a huge team in America, winning the NFL Championships in 1995, 1990, 1989, 1985, 1982, but they have not hit the heights again since. Rumour has it that York's sons and daughter are 'bored' with the NFL, and have been casting envious gazes at the high yield for 'relatively' minimum investment opportunity presented by the purchase of a Barclays Premier League club.

Liverpool and Manchester United are both owned by Americans, and their success is seen as the template for a take over, borrowing lots of money at 'long' cheap rates to bank roll the incumbent manager, or another one of their choice, with the funds to redevelop his team. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, due to the fragile World economy, interest rates had plummeted, as a consequence raising 'substantial' funds was seen as an easy option to move clubs forward, safe in the knowledge that the enormous TV revenue afforded to clubs in the top flight were more than enough to cover the interest payments AND ensure an incredibly healthy dividend for the new owners and their stake holders.

In reality, despite all the 'positive vibes' emerging from the London Stadium, it is unlikely that West Ham will make one of the champions league slots, but the Europa League is a definite possibility, and you can guarantee, the more the club progresses, the more the talk will be of a take over, as opposed to the old 'Declan Rice to Chelsea/Manchester' chestnut! - Ed