West Ham set for £100 million takeover – report

English Premier League club West Ham are the target of a 100 million pounds takeover by a multinational consortium of wealthy fans, according to a report in the News of the World on Sunday.

The newspaper claims the London-based Intermarket Group this week started talks over buying the struggling Hammers before the January transfer window.

West Ham fans are believed to comprise the consortium which is being headed up by Wall Street businessman Jim Bowe, Intermarket Group’s chief executive and a former head of the New York Board of Trade.

CB Holding, an Icelandic holding company made up of banks owed money by the Hammers’ previous owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson, currently own the London club but have indicated they would consider selling at the right price.

“My colleagues and I have been approached by the consortium with the aim of buying West Ham in its entirety,” Bowe told the News of the World.

“We are not interested in just taking on the debt, or securing a percentage. We want to get West Ham back on track for the upper echelons of the Premier League.

“We want what the fans want and there is no restriction on us as to how we achieve that aim. We are in the early stages of our discussions with the club. But we are optimistic that we can develop a proposal that will benefit all parties. The best deal is the deal where everyone feels that they’ve won.

“The consortium comprises West Ham supporters who have made serious money in the City, the United States and elsewhere and who see the potential in the club, its fanbase, academy and playing staff.”

West Ham, who lost 2-1 at Stoke on Saturday, are currently second bottom of the Premier League after winning just one of their first eight games.