Swiss tycoon Hansjorg Wyss said Wednesday he had been offered the chance to buy The Premier League’s powerhouse, Chelsea, like the control surrounding his current Russian owner Roman Abramovich grows up.
86-year-old Wyss, one of The richest in Switzerland men, who founded the doctor device the manufacturing company Synthes told Swiss newspaper Blick that he and three others had been questioned out on Tuesday.
But Wyss wants Abramovich to reduce his request price for the Premier League side.
Abramovich revealed on Saturday that he plans to place its property of the Blues in “management and care” of trustees of the Chelsea Foundation.
Abramovich was not named on an increase in UK sanctions list by targeting pro-Kremlin banks, businesses and tycoons in the awakening of that of Moscow invasion of Ukraine.
But British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was pressured on because Abramovich was not mentioned, given his familiarity with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Abramovich is one of Putin’s closest advisers and friends,” Wyss told Blick.
“Like all other oligarchs, he is in panicked. Abramovich is currently trying to sell all his villas in England. He also wants to get rid of of Chelsea in rush. Long with three other people I received an offer Tuesday at buy Abramovich’s Chelsea.
“I have to wait four or five days. Abramovich is asking too much in this moment. Chelsea owes him £ 2 billion ($ 2.7 billion, € 2.4 billion). But Chelsea didn’t money. This means those who buy Chelsea must compensate Abramovich.
“We do not know yet know the exact sale price. I can very well imagine joining Chelsea with partner. First I have to look carefully at the conditions.
“I certainly wouldn’t do such a thing alone. If me buy Chelsea, it will be with a consortium of six to seven investors “.
Silence at Stamford Bridge
Contacted in London, Chelsea refused to comment while a spokesman for Abramovich did not respond immediately.
Chelsea defeated Brazilian Palmeiras 2-1 in the Club World Cup final in Abu Dhabi last month, which means the Blues have now won every possible trophy since Abramovich bought West London side in 2003.
Johnson was asked in Warsaw on Tuesday because Abramovich was not personally sanctioned by Britain, as several British lawmakers have asked.
In response, Johnson did not mention the Chelsea owner, but said Britain would “tighten the economic noose further” around the Russian regime.
In parliament Opposition Labor MP Chris Bryant said Tuesday Abramovich looked “terrified. of be sanctioned, that’s why it is already intend to sell her home”.
Wyss praised the West’s “excellent approach” in impose sanctions on Russian interests.
“The fact that Russian oligarchs are targeted by Americans and Europeans is absolutely essential, because they could have an influence on Putin, “he told Blick.
Luck of medical devices
Forbes Magazine 2021 Annual list of the world’S dollar billionaires put Wyss in 451 ° place, with a fortune of 6 billion dollars.
The Harvard Business School graduate was the president and president of Synthes, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of tools and implants to repair bone fractures.
In 2012, Synthes was acquired by US healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson. Now it is part of DePuy by J&J division, with the acquisition creating one of the world’s largest orthopedics and neurology companies.
Wyss is also a well-known philanthropist, with its charitable foundation worth over $ 2 billion.
In 2018, it pledged to donate $ 1 billion for conservation programs.
Stephen Taylor Heath, head of sports law at Manchester-based lawyers JMW Solicitors, said it was understood that Abramovich controls corporate entities that own Chelsea rather than the club directly.
“Any would-be buyer would need undertake due diligence that establishes the ownership structure and any problems with the club. And therefore a very quick immediate sale would be very difficult in practice”He said.
