Little-known Turkish billionaire Muhsin Bayrak reveals he’s in talks to buy Chelsea with Roman Abramovich wanting £3bn
TURKISH billionaire Muhsin Bayrak claims he is in talks to buy Chelsea for Roman Abramovich.
The European champions were put up for sale by Abramovich amid backlash over Russia’s invasion of neighbouring country Ukraine.
Abramovich was a topic of conversation in the UK parliament with some MPs questioning why the oligarch has not been sanctioned due to his ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Experts have suggested Abramovich, 55, is now looking to offload all of his London assets, including Chelsea.
And Turkish billionaire Bayrak says he’s in talks to buy the west London club.
He told Turkish outlet Yeni Safak: “We are negotiating the terms of the purchase of Chelsea with Roman Abramovich’s lawyers.
“We are in the negotiation phase for the signatures. We will fly the Turkish flag in London soon.
“We made our offer. Because of the war with Russia and Ukraine in the world. Because they find Turkey safe, they want to get most of the after-sales money in Turkey. We are planning to sign soon.”
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Bayrak is the leader of the Mutki Tribe of Bitlis, one of the largest families in Turkey, as well as Chairman of the Board of AB Group Holding.
AB Group Holding, rumoured to be an £8bn-business, have investments in crypto, construction, tourism and energy sectors.
And Bayrak says the sale is ‘very important for Turkey.’
He continued: “Roman Abramovich has confirmed that he will sell Chelsea, which he bought in 2003, on the club’s official website.
“Our Holding Lawyers and Roman Abramovich’s lawyers have been in touch since the first day Chelsea entered the sales process.
“The negotiation process has come to an end and we are planning to sign soon. This sale is also very important for Turkey.”
Bayrak isn’t the only interested party.
Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss, 86, reportedly wants to buy Chelsea as he has a personal grudge against the Blues’ current owner.
Mega-rich Loutfy Mansour, who has a Chelsea season ticket, ruled himself out of the race to by the club.
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