West Ham co-chair Daniel Kretinsky has sold just over 2% of his stake in the club to Czech businessman Jakub Havrlant. This strategic move could undermine Amanda Staveley's attempts to acquire a stake in the Championship outfit.

On Saturday, Vanessa Gold, West Ham's other co-chair and daughter of former co-owner David Gold, confirmed her family's plans to sell their shares to a consortium led by Staveley. However, the deal faces challenges due to West Ham's long-standing pre-emption rights clause, which grants existing shareholders the first opportunity to buy available shares, potentially matching Staveley's offer.

Kretinsky, who acquired 27% of West Ham in 2021, had previously struggled to finalize a deal with Gold announced in June amid allegations against the club's majority shareholder David Sullivan, which he denies. Kretinsky has expressed concerns about the Staveley deal, stating he is "considering his options" after the Gold family's announcement.

The sale to Havrlant is significant as it enables Kretinsky to pursue Gold's 25.1% stake without exceeding 50% ownership, which would necessitate an offer for the entire club. Meanwhile, Sullivan, who still holds 38.8%, could potentially make an offer for Gold's shares, though the feasibility remains uncertain due to the ongoing allegations.

The process surrounding the sale of Gold's shares is anticipated to take about two months, involving two rounds of pre-emption. Kretinsky expressed optimism, stating, "I am delighted Jakub Havrlant has joined the West Ham ownership group as a shareholder, subject to the pre-emption process," praising Havrlant's experience as an investor and digital innovator.