London Stadium update sparks suggestion West Ham could assume ownership without paying a penny

West Ham United could potentially take full ownership of the London Stadium without paying a transfer fee, according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness.

The suggestion comes amid reports that the Greater London Authority could be open to discussions over the future of the Hammers' home.

Why could West Ham take over London Stadium for free?

Wyness believes the stadium's substantial running costs could ultimately make ownership a burden that authorities would be willing to hand over rather than continue carrying themselves.

Reports earlier this year claimed the London Stadium was costing taxpayers around £19 million per year to run, while West Ham have occupied the Stratford venue since moving there in 2016.

Wyness, who now runs a football consultancy, believes former West Ham vice-chair Karren Brady negotiated an excellent deal for the club when the move was agreed.

However, he suggested that the strength of that agreement may have made the authorities reluctant to sell the stadium to the existing ownership.

Speaking on Football Insider's podcast, Wyness said a change in ownership could alter the situation, with the possibility of West Ham taking on the stadium's losses in exchange for ownership.

He believes that could become an option for a future owner such as Daniel Kretinsky, particularly if the Greater London Authority decides it no longer wants to absorb the ongoing costs.

FGG says: West Ham could finally solve a long-running problem

There is an obvious logic to the idea if the reported running costs are anywhere near their claimed level.

Rather than the taxpayer continuing to shoulder a stadium bill, West Ham taking ownership and responsibility for those losses could give both sides a cleaner long-term arrangement.

The big question is whether the Hammers would actually want to take on those costs, especially given their supporters' difficult relationship with the stadium since 2016.

If the authorities genuinely want to stop the losses, a deal that sees the Hammers take the stadium for nothing while assuming the financial burden could be worth exploring.