Shaquille O'Neal could be latest big American name with stake in UK football

Shaquille O’Neal could be latest big American name with stake in UK football

Posted by author June 27, 2024 Football

Shaquille O’Neal has his eyes on a famous Premier League team.

One of the greatest centers in basketball history is now best known for pairing with Charles Barkley on TNT’s fan-favorite “Inside the NBA” TV program.

Shaquille O’Neal could soon have an ownership stake across the pondCredit: AFP

But Shaq loves to stay busy and he’s considering his options overseas while the 2024 Euros are entering the Round of 16 and the Premier League is on holiday.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney turned Wrexham FC into a household name in the United States.

Tom Brady invested in Birmingham City. LeBron James has an interest in Liverpool.

J.J. Watt is a Burnley backer.

Will Ferrell is involved with Leeds.

With rich and famous Americans increasingly recognizing the global power of international football, Shaq is reportedly weighing the pros and cons of buying a stake in West Ham.

“Shaq loves British football and he has been talking about putting some serious cash into the club,” a source told The Sun.

“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.

Ryan Reynolds has helped Wrexham became a household nameCredit: Getty

J.J. Watt felt the power and pain of the Premier League last seasonCredit: Getty

“Shaq is really interested in what deal he could strike.”

O’Neal, 52, is a Hall of Famer with 15 All-Star selections, four NBA championships and three Finals MVPs.

Shaquille O’Neal reacts to Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic winning MVP and believes it should have been given to Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar tops Shaq on the list of the greatest centers of all-time.

And no one was as powerful in the paint as the former LSU star who journeyed from a franchise-changing No. 1 pick for the Orlando Magic into a Los Angeles Lakers legend.

Broken backboards and rim destruction were proof of how monstrous the NBA’s Superman was.

O’Neal averaged 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks, and played until he was 38.

West Ham recently moved on from David Moyes and hired Julen Lopetegui.

The East London club finished in ninth place in the Premier League last season, one spot behind Manchester United.