Abramovich Rejects Middle East Consortium Bid For Chelsea

Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich has reportedly rejected an offer from a mega-rich consortium based in the Middle East to buy the club.

The Russian billionaire who used to be a regular at Stamford Bridge, due to UK visa restrictions on wealthy foreign nationals has been unable to secure a visa. This fuelled rumours that he was willing to let Chelsea go coupled with the fact that he put plans to develop Stamford Bridge on hold amid spiralling costs of £1billion.

According to The Telegraph, the 52-year-old who acquired Chelsea in 2003 has no plans of selling the club as he has been approached by a number of potential buyers like, Britain’s richest man, Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The Briton had to settle for a takeover of French club Lille last summer.

However, a Moscow-based connection told The Telegraph: ‘Roman simply wants at least £3billion before he will start listening.’

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Abramovich purchased Chelsea at the outright price of £140m but last week, former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson revealed he encouraged Abramovich to buy Chelsea instead of Tottenham.

Speaking with The Times, Sven-Goran said: ‘Tottenham or Chelsea? I said, “What does he want to do?” He said he wants to win.

‘I said, “So buy Chelsea. You have to change half the team. Tottenham you have to change the whole team.’

Chelsea currently sit fourth on the Premier League table after their one-goal win at home to Newcastle.