Daniel Křetínský closes in on control of West Ham United

The third-richest Czech, Daniel Křetínský, continues his push to increase his stake in the London football club West Ham United. As recently as this past weekend it looked as though he would not manage to grow his holding, but the businessman may now be able to block a rival takeover deal for the club worth £150 million — and, according to some reports, another Czech billionaire could help him do it.

Křetínský, known for his interest in sports assets (he also owns the French club RC Lens, as well as a stake in Sparta Prague), has spent several years gradually increasing his influence at West Ham. The story of the blocked deal shows that the Czech entrepreneur intends to seriously fight for control of the English club rather than remain a minority shareholder.

The details of exactly how the standoff over the £150 million deal might unfold, and what role the second Czech billionaire will play in it, are only gradually coming to light, but the mere fact that the fate of a major English football club may hinge on the decisions of Czech businessmen underlines just how much Czech capital's influence has grown on the international sports market.