Roman Abramovich's shock $875 million move amid Chelsea sale
The remaining three consortiums bidding to buy Chelsea have reportedly been told they have to stump up an extra £500m (AUD$875 million) to buy the English Premier League club.
Chelsea was put up for sale by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich before sanctions were imposed on the oligarch by the British government over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Those moves left the club unable to sign new players or renew existing contracts.
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Final bids for the club were submitted earlier this month, with the three remaining consortiums expected to find out who the winning bidder is in the coming days.
However, Sky News has reported that the three remaining bidders were informed this week that Abramovich was demanding AUD$875 million more, on the proviso that it would go to charity.
Abramovich is not allowed to profit from the sale under sanctions imposed by the UK government - a response to the billionaire's links to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
The remaining £1.5 billion ($AU2.63 billion) debt owed by the club will be wiped by the Russian oligarch.
The Sun reports that funds of $1.7 billion generated from the sale could be handed to charities, making it one of the biggest charitable donations in British history.
It's understood demands for the extra AUD$875 million came directly from Mr Abramovich's associates, with the Russian billionaire planning to set up a foundation for victims of the war in Ukraine.
Sporting superstars part of bid to buy Chelsea
Tennis superstar Serena Williams and seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton have been linked to one of the Chelsea takeover bids, being haded up by former Liverpool and British Airways chairman Sir Martin Broughton.
Sky News has reported both Williams and Hamilton are prepared to make multi-million dollar contributions to the bid, with Chelsea expected to be sold for more than $AUD4.5 billion.
Two other bids are in play for the Premier League giants, spearheaded by Boston Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca and Los Angeles Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly respectively.
Broughton's ownership group would include a significant stake from Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBS&E).
HBS&E owns the Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL's New Jersey Devils, as well as a portion of Premier League club Crystal Palace.
Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam winner, is already a minority owner in NWSL club Angel City FC.
Lewis Hamilton & Serena Williams have joined Sir Martin Broughton’s bid to buy Chelsea FC, and they have agreed to invest more than $25 million in the deal.
The club is expected to sell for more than $4 billion.
(h/t @SkyNews) pic.twitter.com/GVRPntxrhx— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) April 21, 2022
If the bid including Williams and Hamilton is the group that ends up buying Chelsea, the two stars will join LeBron James as athlete minority owners of Premier League teams.
James and Maverick Carter bought a 2% stake in Liverpool in April 2011.
Liverpool's primary owners are the Fenway Sports Group, the consortium that owns the Boston Red Sox.
with agencies
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