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 £70m (€100.5m) takeover prospect fronted by a London-based Iranian-born businessman who was recently involved in weighing up a move for Sir John Hall’s shares at Newcastle United.