Sunday, August 26, 2018
CHELSEA FOR SALE?
CHELSEA owner Roman Abramovich has put the club up for sale with a price tag of more than £2billion, it was claimed last night.
It follows the Russian oligarch’s dispute with the Government in recent months over his visa status.
The mammoth figure demanded for Chelsea would smash the world record fee for the sale of a football club.
If a buyer summons up the cash it would nearly triple the most expensive takeover in history — the Glazer family’s £790million purchase of Manchester United in 2006.
The Raine Group has been hired to assist with the deal and will seek interest from China, the US and the Middle East, The Sunday Times has reported.
The investment bank also helped Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi owners to flog a 13 per cent stake to Chinese investors for £1.9billion three years ago.
Abramovich, 51, is said to have rejected a £2billion bid for his club from Britain’s richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe earlier this year.
The Russian, who has an estimated fortune of £9billion, recently acquired Israeli citizenship amid his visa row in Britain.
He also halted plans for a new 60,000-capacity stadium for Chelsea that would have cost an estimated £500million.
Once renowned as big spenders, Chelsea’s transfer dealings have also slowed significantly compared to their rivals.
Abramovich has been in charge of Chelsea since July 2003 when he bought the West London club for £140million from Ken Bates.
Under his ownership, the Blues have won five Premier League titles, the Champions League, the Europa League and the FA Cup five times
Saturday, August 25, 2018
Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde ‘hopes’ Ivan Rakitic will stay amid PSG transfer rumours
ERNESTO VALVERDE is desperate for midfield maestro Ivan Rakitic to remain at Barcelona amid interest from Paris Saint-Germain.
SunSport reported yesterday how the 30-year-old is being chased by the Ligue 1 champions - who are set to offer the Catalan club £81million for his services.
But Barca boss Valverde has stressed the importance of the ex-Sevilla star - insisting he is a vital player in his starting XI.
He said: "He is a fundamental player for us and I am counting on him due to what he does for us, the importance he had for the team last season was clear.
"I hope that he stays here.
“I want to have the best players here and he is one of the best
“He knows how we play, he is integrated into the team and the club.
“We are not here to make money from a player, we aim to win and make the trophy room bigger."
Rakitic - who is tied down at the Nou Camp until 2021 - played the full 90 minutes in Barcelona's 3-0 win against Alaves in the La Liga season-opener last week.
He will be looking to start against Real Valladolid later tonight at the Estadio Jose Zorrilla.
Real Madrid to switch attention to Neymar in 2019
REAL MADRID could turn their attention to Neymar in 2019 should they fail in their bid to land Kylian Mbappe this month.
Los Blancos are still hoping to bring France's World Cup superstar to the Bernabeu this summer even with time in the current window running out.
Should Real miss out on Mbappe, they will turn to his club team-mate Neymar in January or next summer, according to AS.
Julen Lopetegui is still actively seeking a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo - who joined Juventus in a £99million deal earlier this summer.
Mbappe, 19, has been on the radar of the Madrid giants ever since he burst onto the scene with Monaco.
However, the French star opted to remain in his home country with giants Paris Saint-Germain - becoming the second-most expensive player of all time in the process, behind Neymar.
And it's Brazil star Neymar, 26, who Real are considering turning their attention to should their audacious bid for golden boy Mbappe fail to materialise.
Real Madrid's chances of landing the France ace will become a lot clearer on Monday when Uefa deliver their findings of an Financial Fair Play probe into PSG.
The Ligue 1 giants have been under the microscope for their outrageous spending in recent seasons - including the mega-money buy of Neymar and the whopping loan deal agreed for Mbappe.
If PSG are found to have breached FFP regulations, they may be forced to offload one of their star assets.
Jose Mourinho will get backing in the January window but Manchester United refuse to be held to ransom
JOSE MOURINHO will get backing in the January window... but Manchester United refuse to be held to ransom over his targets.
The Special One, in the market for a centre-back, will ONLY be allowed to pursue players that show value for money.
United’s policy left Jose without the big-name defender he wanted this summer after looking at Harry Maguire, Yerry Mina and Toby Alderweireld.
Spurs’ Alderweireld, 29, will be firmly on the agenda again when the window opens as he will have just six months left on his deal at White Hart Lane and may be available at a knockdown price.
Senior figures at United view the January window as a difficult month to land suitable players.
But they are willing to invest for Mourinho — IF the price is right.
In the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era they have landed Juan Mata from Chelsea and Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal in major mid-season deals.
Victor Valdes also arrived on a free as cover from Barcelona.
Sanchez also had six months left on his Gunners’ deal and although expensive in wages, showed high-profile deals can be done.
Before January, Jose will agree a list of targets with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and recruitment staff, and a maximum price for each player.
Liverpool ‘reject £2billion takeover bid’ from Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour’s cousin
MANCHESTER CITY owner Sheikh Mansour's cousin tried and failed with a £2billion bid to buy Liverpool, according to reports.
Sheikh Khaled Bin Zayed Al Nehayan approached Reds representatives in late 2017, the Daily Mail report.
A £2billion takeover would have been a world record for the most expensive in the history of football.
Khaled is one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the Middle East, the report added.
His managing director Midhat Kidwai also met with Liverpool chairman Tom Werner in New York.
Fenway Sports Group purchased Liverpool for £280million in 2010.
