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Daniel Kretinsky, the Czech billionaire close to purchasing a 27% stake in West Ham United, was at the London Stadium this afternoon to see David Moyes’s team beat Liverpool 3-2.
The 46-year-old, who has significant stakes in Royal Mail and Sainsbury’s, watched from the directors’ box as the Hammers silenced Jurgen Klopp’s visitors with an outstanding second-half performance.
Confirmation of a deal is expected in the coming days, although reports of an option to buy a majority stake in the club being built into the agreement are premature.
Kretinsky will have been impressed by West Ham’s performance as they took the lead through a bizarre Alisson mistake from a free kick early on, only to find themselves pegged level following a contentious Trent Alexander-Arnold free kick.
But Pablo Fornals put the hosts back in front midway through the second half, finishing off a fine counterattack in which Jarrod Bowen drove forward with four defenders chasing him, before Kurt Zouma doubled their advantage with a back post header.
Divock Origi made it 3-2 with less than ten minutes to play but West Ham held defensively firm. and Kretinsky could be seen clapping along to Twist and Shout at full time.
The 27% purchase, should it be completed, is likely to be worth between £180m and £190m. Kretinsky’s wealth is valued at £2.9bn according to Forbes.
He is currently the chairman, and majority owner, of Sparta Prague and would need to relinquish that role should the clubs ever meet in Europe.
He also owns stakes in French newspaper Le Monde and the fashion magazine Elle.
