Dubai Investors Deny West Ham Link
Dubai wealth fund Zabeel investments has denied it is interested in a West Ham takeover
The Dubai sovereign wealth fund that has lodged a bid to buy Charlton Athletic has denied today's reports that it is also interested in purchasing West Ham United.
Zabeel Investments has been linked with the Premier League club after the Hammers owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson's assets were hit by the financial turmoil in Iceland. Gudmundsson was a major shareholder in Iceland's second-biggest bank, Landsbanki, before it was nationalized last week.
That led to suggestions that Gudmundsson could be forced to sell the club, but Zabeel today maintained it is not interested in buying West Ham. The group lodged a bid for Charlton on Friday and have insisted they are committed to buying the Championship club and will continue to press ahead with the due diligence process.
In a statement released today, a Zabeel spokesperson said: "There is no truth to media reports that Zabeel Investments made an approach to West Ham football club yesterday. Zabeel Investments has not approached any club since it made an indicative offer for Charlton Athletic last Friday, nor has it authorized any approach on its behalf.
"Zabeel Investments is currently in the due diligence phase of its offer to Charlton Athletic and it is therefore inappropriate to comment further at this stage."
Zabeel Investments has been linked with the Premier League club after the Hammers owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson's assets were hit by the financial turmoil in Iceland. Gudmundsson was a major shareholder in Iceland's second-biggest bank, Landsbanki, before it was nationalized last week.
That led to suggestions that Gudmundsson could be forced to sell the club, but Zabeel today maintained it is not interested in buying West Ham. The group lodged a bid for Charlton on Friday and have insisted they are committed to buying the Championship club and will continue to press ahead with the due diligence process.
In a statement released today, a Zabeel spokesperson said: "There is no truth to media reports that Zabeel Investments made an approach to West Ham football club yesterday. Zabeel Investments has not approached any club since it made an indicative offer for Charlton Athletic last Friday, nor has it authorized any approach on its behalf.
"Zabeel Investments is currently in the due diligence phase of its offer to Charlton Athletic and it is therefore inappropriate to comment further at this stage."
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