Sky Sports News carried another rumour of a Saudi Arabia takeover of West Ham United over the weekend.

It is one of many reports that have persisted over the last two decades.

A 2009 report in the Independent, which is still online, talks of Saudi property investor Ali al-Faraj’s attempt to buy West Ham after he failed to buy Portsmouth.

In 2016, Hammers’ majority shareholder, David Sullivan, fanned the flames more by telling the official club website that he had no desire to sell unless it was someone like the King of Saudi Arabia.

Everything changed in 2021 when the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) took over Newcastle United.

In Saudi Arabia, the royal family, the state and their wealth are one, and nothing happens without the King’s blessing.

It is true that Saudi Prince Abdullah bin Mosa’ad Al Saud owned Sheffield United from 2019 until 2024, which preceded the Newcastle takeover, but he sold up to an American consortium last December.

The likelihood of the Saudi King approving another Premier League club takeover by one of his family seems slim to none.