Will the sale of Chelsea fall apart in the home stretch?
According to the very serious British daily The Times, this is the risk that the London club runs.
The British newspaper claims that the Russian owner, who announced in early March the sale of the reigning European champions shortly after the start of the war in Ukraine, could renege on his promise not to demand payment of the debt of 1.8 billion euros that the Blues owe him.
The Russian oligarch, sanctioned by the United Kingdom because of his links with the Kremlin, has reportedly let the British government know that he intends to restructure the sale of Chelsea.
This would include the payment of the debt, via a payment to a structure based in the tax haven of Jersey, contracted over the years by the Premier League club from its owner.
Clearly, Abramovich would like to fall back on his feet financially.
A consortium led by an American in exclusive negotiations
The request would significantly complicate the sale process, as it would increase the initial price charged to the purchaser of the club.
It could also force him to limit his investments once at the head of the Blues and therefore see the club lose part of its workforce.
For the time being, the consortium led by the co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball franchise Todd Boehly has entered into exclusive negotiations for the takeover of Chelsea for an estimated sum of 3.8 billion euros, even if a higher offer of OGC Nice owner Jim Ratcliffe has been transmitted.
Time is running out, as Secretary of State for Sport, Nadine Dorries, reminded us last weekend, who put pressure on the current leaders last weekend.
Pending the sale, Chelsea cannot extend the contract of its players or be active in the transfer market.