The deal that took Argentine internationals Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano to West Ham United last month could be an indication of things to come. Tevez and Mascherano played for Brazilian club Corinthians, but their contracts were owned by Iranian businessman Kia Jooraabchian, the former head of MSI, the investment company with a controlling interest in Corinthians. Jooraabchian resigned as head of MSI in June, but retained a personal stake in the two players, bringing them to West Ham last month on a free transfer, despite interest from a string of larger clubs, including Manchester United and Chelsea.

The actual terms of the deal are unclear, although Jooraabchian insists the players are at West Ham for the long term—contradicting suggestions that the east London club is simply providing a “shop window” for the players in anticipation of a more lucrative transfer to a bigger club, once the two have established themselves in the English game. MSI originally bought Tevez’s contract for £10.5m, but Jooraabchian will be aware that transfer fees between English clubs are generally higher than the fees generated by transfers involving South American clubs, which makes West Ham a potentially lucrative stepping stone to a larger windfall on the players.

Further muddying the waters is Joorabchian’s refusal to deny his interest in buying West Ham from principal shareholder Terry Brown.

West Ham team manager Alan Pardew has admitted to being “intrigued” by the arrival of two of the world’s best players at the club, but he remains upbeat: “I’ve got two world-class players at West Ham,” he says. “Let’s rejoice.”