Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich, is set to sell Chelsea for in excess of £3 billion.
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The billionaire is contemplating giving up his stake in the club he bought in 2003.
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, said “Abramovich is one of Vladimir Putin’s closest advisers and friends.
“Like all other oligarchs, he is also in a panic”, he said.
“Abramovich is trying to sell all his villas in England. He also wants to get rid of Chelsea quickly.
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“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.
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