Report: American investor keeping tabs on NUFC & West Ham as he eyes EPL takeover – originally posted on Sportslens.com
According to The Athletic’s Matt Slater, Joseph DaGrosa will look elsewhere if Southampton’s majority owner Gao Jisheng does not lower his price (around £200 million) for the club, with Newcastle United and West Ham United his most likely alternatives.
The American investor is looking to buy a club in the English top-flight and did look at Newcastle in 2019.
However, his interest never advanced beyond the preliminary stage.
Nevertheless, the St. James’ Park outfit remain high on Kapital Football Group’s list of potential anchor clubs, and West Ham also fit the profile of clubs that Kapital is targeting.
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Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund were looking to take over Newcastle a few months ago in a £300 million deal, but the move fell through after they pulled out of talks during the Premier League’s Directors’ and Owners’ Test.
It remains to be seen if they will return for talks anytime soon, but the Magpies remain an attractive option for investors, and DaGrosa could be looking to swoop.
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley remains more than keen on selling the club, but whether the American will agree with his asking price is unknown.
West Ham were linked with a takeover last September, with co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan rejecting a £400 million bid from an American consortium.
DaGrosa believes the coronavirus pandemic has wiped at least £50 million off Southampton’s value, but the current Saints majority owner is clearly not keen on selling the club for £150 million.
Ashley is not likely to reduce his £300 million asking price for Newcastle either, while the Hammers owners are apparently looking for more than £400 million to sell their shares.