BASKETBALL star Shaquille O’Neal is in talks about taking a stake in West Ham United.
The LA Lakers legend, 52, got the Hammers bug after watching a game last season and has said he is interested in becoming a shareholder.
A source told The Sun: “Shaq loves British football and he has been talking about putting some serious cash into the club.
“He went to a game at the end of the season and loved it. It’s now a case of whether the financials stack up for him.
“Shaq is really interested in what deal he could strike.”
The Hammers finished ninth in the Premier League last year, a year after winning the Europa Conference League.
Fans will likely be delighted with some investment after making a £18.3million loss in the 2022/23 season.
New boss Julen Lopetegui took over from David Moyes last month.
West Ham is currently owned by four major investors.
David Sullivan, 75 – whose family’s net worth is estimated to be around £1.2bn – owns 38.8% of the club.
Vanessa Gold, the widow of David Gold who died in January 2023, owns 25.1%.
And Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky , 48, – who is worth a staggering £8bn – owns 27% of the Hammers.
And American investment guru Albert ‘Tripp’ Smith, 52, owns 8%.
Smith, senior managing director of private equity firm The Blackstone Group, bought a 10 per cent stake in West Ham in 2017 and is a director on the club’s board.
Shaq retired in 2011 and was regarded as one of the best centres in the world.
The 7ft 1in ace played for six teams during his 19-year career and is a four-time NBA champion.
Off the field he turned to commentary and previously revealed he harboured a secret passion for British football.
In 2016 he backed Northampton Town when they were pushing from promotion from League Two.
Shaq, who co-owned a radio show with the Cobblers’ chairman Kelvin Thomas, recorded a video for the players urging them to secure first place.
If Shaq invests in the Hammers he would be the latest US star to put their fortunes into British clubs.
NBA legend Lebron James owns a stake in Liverpool after becoming a partner in their American ownership group Fenway.
The basketball superstar, 39, has owned a two per cent stake in the Premier League champions since 2011.
Actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney own Wrexham FC, Anchorman star Will Ferrell is involved at Leeds, and NFL star Tom Brady has a large investment at Birmingham City.