Pardew claims Hammers unruffled by takeover talk

WEST Ham manager Alan Pardew has pledged not to let his players become distracted by takeover talk as they start their countdown to a new season back in the Premiership.

Reports have surfaced of a €100million takeover prospect fronted by a London-based Iranian-born businessman who was recently involved in weighing up a move for shares in Newcastle United.

Kia Joorabchian is thought to be behind a plan by Media Sports Investments who controversially purchased the ownership of top Brazilian club Corinthians last year.

He is now believed to be interested in making an offer to the Hammers some time early in the new year but there is no certainty that the East End club’s chairman Terry Brown will sell.

Pardew said: “I have no information on any takeover and I am not really concentrating on that.”