Chelsea
chairman Bruce Buck says Roman Abramovich remains fully involved at Stamford
Bridge and is not interested in "bargain' bids" for the club.
Speaking to
The Guardian, Buck revealed that owner Abramovich has
never ordered him to get ready for a sale of the club despite some interest
from bidders hoping to buy Chelsea at a bargain price.
Abramovich has reportedly not attended a home match since the British
government delayed renewing his visa with the Chelsea owner then taking out
Israeli citizenship in May 2018 and cancelling planned development to
Stamford Bridge.
Buck said: "So far as I know, absolutely not; to the contrary. I have never
heard a word from Mr Abramovich: 'Let's get this ready for a sale,' or
something.
"Because of the political situation, there are people who think they might
want to buy Chelsea football club at a bargain.
"We do get inquiries and we really have nothing to say to these people.
"In terms of being involved, in looking at new players, talking about
whether to extend players' contracts, do we buy this player, do we sell this
player, [Abramovich] was always intimately involved in that from day one and
is just as intimately involved now."
Responding to talk that Chelsea appear to be on hold because of Abramovich's
absence, Buck said: "I understand what you are saying and it is hard to
disprove it, except to say: 'Let's see what happens in the next transfer
window.'
"The point I am making - it's a glib one - if we go out in the next window
and spend a zillion, it's pretty hard to argue that things are on hold."
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