CHELSEA’S Russian owner Roman Abramovich is considering selling the Premier League club after a British crackdown on associates of President Putin, it was claimed yesterday.
The club is understood to be working with a bank which could lead to a sale for about £2.5billion.
In May Chelsea put on ice plans to build a new £1billion 60,000-seat stadium in west London (Image: NC)
It would make a significant profit for Mr Abramovich, who bought it for £150million 15 years ago and has lent Chelsea another £1.1billion. The tycoon, thought to be worth £9billion, has been caught up in the row after Russia’s chemical weapons attack on former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury in March.
As revealed by the Daily Express, Britain intends to put pressure on Mr Putin by targeting his rich British-based allies.
Mr Abramovich, believed to have strong links to Mr Putin, acquired his fortune through the sale of assets, including oil and aluminium, in the break-up of the Soviet Union.
Though there is no suggestion that Mr Abramovich has done anything wrong, he has been unable to renew his visa and missed Chelsea’s FA Cup win in May.
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