ROMAN ABRAMOVICH is looking to sell Chelsea for in excess of £3BILLION.
And Abramovich is prepared to do a deal within DAYS if he gets the offer he wants.
Roman Abramovich has reportedly put Chelsea up for sale
The Blues owner has always refused to contemplate giving up his stake in the club he bought in 2003.
But with the threat of UK Government sanctions now hanging over the billionaire in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the situation has changed.
SunSport understands that Abramovich has approached a group of US financiers with a previous interest in sports ownership deals to see if they can smoke out genuine bidders.
The news comes as Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss claimed he has ALREADY been approached by Abramovich.
Wyss, an 86-year-old businessman who now lives in Wyoming in the USA, told Blick newspaper: “Abramovich is one of Vladimir Putin‘s closest advisers and friends.
“Like all other oligarchs, he is also in a panic.
“Abramovich is trying to sell all his villas in England. He also wants to get rid of Chelsea quickly.
“I and three other people received an offer on Tuesday to buy Chelsea from Abramovich.”
Wyss added: “I have to wait four to five days now. Abramovich is currently asking far too much. You know, Chelsea owe him £2 billion.
“But Chelsea has no money. What it means is that anyone who buys Chelsea should have to compensate Abramovich.
“As of today, we don’t know the exact selling price.
“I can well imagine starting at Chelsea with partners. But I have to examine the general conditions first.
“What I can already say is this: I’m definitely not doing something like this alone. If I buy Chelsea, then it would be with a consortium consisting of six to seven investors.”
Wyss’ comments appear set to spark a bidding war with at least two other rival offers believed to be in the pipeline.
The club declined to comment on the evolving situation but it seems Abramovich is now looking to cash in his Chelsea chips.
Labour MP Chris Bryant claimed in the Commons that Abramovich is also attempted to sell his London mansion for £152m, with suggestions he wants to liquidise all his UK assets ahead of any potential sanctions.
Abramovich has loaned Chelsea £1.5bn through holding company Fordstam although he has shown no signs of ever demanding repayment while previous offers of up to £2.2bn have been rejected out of hand.
But Abramovich appears to now be feeling the heat, aware that imposed sanctions would prevent any companies from dealing with him.
RUSSIA INVADING UKRAINE FORCED HIS HAND
Potential suitors believe the oligarch might be looking to cash in his Blues chips as the Russia-Ukraine fall-out continues to drag him in.
Chelsea and sources close to Abramovich have always previously denied he had any intention of selling the club he bought in 2003.
But the intense scrutiny aimed at the billionaire in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine has forced Abramovich to hand over the day-to-day control of the Blues.
And that has now emboldened possible buyers to tempt him into a cut-price deal to get some of his money back.
Abramovich has loaned the club £1.5billion through holding company Fordstam, although he has shown no signs of ever demanding repayment.
Previous soundings-out of bids up to £2.2bn have been rejected out of hand.
Wyss founded medical device manufacturer Synthes USA in 1977 and sold the company to Johnson & Johnson for £15.2bn in 2012.
He has been dubbed as one of the most philanthropic people in the world, donating hundreds of millions of pounds to environmental charities, and signed up to The Giving Pledge, agreeing to give away huge chunks of his fortune.
Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.sportingexcitement.com/football/premier-league/have-to-look-at-it-man-utd-must-consider-harry-maguire-transfer-exit-this-summer-claims-legend-paul-parker/
