Chelsea's
summer transfer plans have been thrown into doubt following Roman
Abramovich's decision to sell the club, with the Premier League side
unlikely to be able to invest heavily in the summer window unless a wealthy
new owner is found in the next few months.
Abramovich announced his decision to sell Chelsea on Wednesday evening,
saying he believes "it is in the best interest of the club". The Russian
billionaire has bankrolled the Blues since his takeover in 2003, with his
funding helping Chelsea to win 19 major trophies during his reign.
Abramovich's support has continued even since 2018, when he became a less
visible presence at Stamford Bridge after withdrawing his application for a
UK visa, with the west London side breaking their transfer record to sign
Romelu Lukaku for £97.5m from Inter Milan last summer.
But that type of spending is unlikely to be possible in the next transfer
window if Abramovich remains the club's owner, with doubts over whether the
55-year-old would be willing to fund expensive player purchases if he is
hoping to sell the club.
That raises the prospect of Chelsea having to operate more like a
conventional business and only spending what they earn, rather than relying
on their billionaire owner.
The European and world champions may also have to use player sales to help
fund any new signings. The Blues have successfully sold players for large
transfer fees in the past, and made a profit in the transfer market this
season despite the arrival of Lukaku.
Another issue for Chelsea could be retaining Antonio Rudiger, Andreas
Christensen and Cesar Azplicueta, who are all out of contract at the end of
the season. The trio have already been approached by other European clubs,
and the uncertainty at Chelsea could impact their decision of whether to
stay at Stamford Bridge.
An added complication for Chelsea is the prospect of Abramovich being placed
under sanctions by the UK Government, who are threatening to target Russian
businesspeople following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Abramovich denies links with the Russian Government or President Vladimir
Putin and denies doing anything that would warrant being sanctioned.
Asked whether the Chelsea owner could sell the club if he was sanctioned by
the UK Government, Richard Masters, the Premier League chief executive said:
"I don't think that will work."
Chelsea have less cause to worry over the future of Thomas Tuchel, though,
with the head coach - who is under contract until 2024 - understood to
remain committed to the club.
However, Bruce Buck, the chairman, and Marina Granovskaia, the powerful
director, are both likely to leave Chelsea if a new owner takes control.
Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss and American investor Todd Boehly are
understood to be two of the parties interested in buying Chelsea. However,
British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe has been ruled out of the running, with a
spokesperson for his company Ineos saying there was "no substance" to
reports linking him with a bid for the club.
Tuchel: Abramovich sale 'hasn't sunk in
yet' | 'It's a massive change'
Thomas Tuchel admitted following Chelsea's FA Cup fifth-round win at Luton
on Wednesday that Roman Abramovich's decision to sell the club "hasn't sunk
in yet" and it will provoke a "massive change" at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea struggled to overcome their Championship opponents in the wake of
Abramovich's statement, eventually winning 3-2, and when asked to discuss
the owner's impact in west London after the game, Tuchel said: "It's a bit
too early because it's big news.
"I can only think about Chelsea with Roman Abramovich, so it's very hard for
me. It hasn't sunk in yet that this is going to stop. It's a massive change,
of course.
"I don't think I need to talk about it. I'm very sure the club will speak to
us and the players. I'm not so much worried because I still feel privileged
and in a good place and I still hope and trust for the best. I'm not so much
the person who worries about things I cannot influence.
"It's big news, it will be a big change, but I'm also never afraid of change
and will focus on what I can influence - this staff and team at Cobham."
Neville reacts to shock Abramovich
statement
Gary Neville has reacted to Abramovich's announcement that he intends to
sell Chelsea after an almost 20-year ownership of the club.
He said: "It's more of a reactive measure than a planned measure because I
don't think he would have put the statement out on Saturday night, handing
the club to the trustees if he knew he was going to put the club up for sale
a few days later.
"We've seen in the news over the last four or five days that wealthy
Russians are moving their assets all over the world to more safe havens
where they're not going to have their assets seized, and Abramovich is no
different.
"He's been an important owner in Premier League history over the last 20
years. I do believe he has enhanced the competitiveness of the Premier
League.
"It was a model at the beginning that I found bizarre, coming from a stable
club at the time in Manchester United - sacking managers quite regularly who
had seen success. But over the last 20 years, he has been a very successful
owner of a football club that has created a distinctive model in the way
they approach things, particularly with their academy players.
"They're a football club who have been very successful and become admired
under his ownership, but eventually those alleged links to Vladimir Putin
and the war on Ukraine have brought it to an end.
"I think things have been closing in on him for a few years now and it has
come to a head in the last week."
Supporters Trust: New owners 'must have
Chelsea as primary focus'
Chelsea Supporters Trust thanked outgoing owner Abramovich in a statement
released on Thursday while expressing support for the people of Ukraine over
the ongoing war.
The statement laid out the Trust's criteria for any new owner, reading:
"With regards to the future - we sincerely hope that any new owner(s) have
the long-term prosperity of Chelsea and its supporters as their primary
focus. Chelsea has a rich history and a strong winning ethos, any potential
takeover should be made to further develop this and not simply as an
'investment opportunity.'
"It is also imperative that any new owner(s) meet and surpass the
requirements outlined within the Premier League's Owners' and Directors'
Test.
"We sincerely hope that any new ownership will have an open dialogue with
supporters and fully consult with supporters organisations when making
decisions. Supporters must be put first in all decisions that are made."
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