Chelsea’s potential Swiss billionaire buyer is driven to buy by his lack of RESPECT for Abramovich

Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss is driven to buy Premier League side Chelsea by his lack of respect for Vladimir Putin-linked Russian owner Roman Abramovich – despite not having a footballing background.

Wyss and LA Dodgers owner Todd Boehly are preparing to table a bid after forming a consortium aiming to buy the club, but the group are not willing to meet Abramovich’s £3billion asking price. 

Reports from his native country Switzerland are suggesting that Wyss’s interest in the Blues has come as a surprise, with no real interest in football, but instead driven by being able to oust Abramovich from Stamford Bridge.

Nicola Imfeld, an economics writer for Blick, who originally broke the news of the billionaire’s interest in the west London club, took to Twitter to provide additional details on why Wyss is keen to buy Chelsea from Abramovich.  

‘Some background on Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss for my British friends. He certainly likes sports but has not had a great affinity for football. 

‘The fact that he could now be involved in a takeover of Chelsea comes as something of a surprise.

‘On the other hand, Mr. Wyss is a true westerner by heart. If it would be on him, neutral Switzerland would position itself even more clear in the political West. I think that plays a real role here. Wyss is driven by ideology. 

Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss (left) is driven to buy Chelsea by his lack of respect for Vladimir Putin-linked Roman Abramovich (right)

‘He sees Russian oligarch Abramovich with apparent contacts to Putin, who is currently waging a war in Ukraine. 

‘Having the chance now to rid Chelsea of such a person, for whom Wyss doesn’t have much respect, drives him.

‘What does this mean for Chelsea? Wyss is in this aspect a typical Swiss. Cautious, humble, acting with prudence. 

Abramovich (C) came under fire for his links with Russian president Vladimir Putin’s regime

LA Dodgers owner Todd Boehly is part of a consortium alongside Swiss businessman Wyss

‘He won’t see Chelsea as his toy and open his wallet. It’s certainly not in the identity of Wyss to ‘buy’ the Champions League. 

‘Keep in mind though that it‘s not him alone bidding for Chelsea.’ 

Longstanding Chelsea owner Abramovich announced his decision to sell the club on Wednesday night, amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

It’s not in the identity of Wyss to ‘buy’ the Champions League and he will not see the club as a toy

The Russian-Israeli billionaire said that the proceeds made from the sale of the club will go to a charitable foundation benefiting victims of the war in Ukraine.  

Other parties credited with an interest include English billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who has distanced himself from making an offer, and Loutfy Mansour, a London-based billionaire of Egyptian heritage.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said on Thursday that a sale could be concluded in as little as 10 days. But closing a deal of this size in such a short space of time seems optimistic at best.

Premier League chief executive thinks it is right that Abramovich is selling Chelsea

It is, however, in Abramovich’s best interests to sell Chelsea as quickly as possible as the prospect of being sanctioned by the UK Government continues to hang over him – bringing his 19 year stay at Stamford Bridge to a close.

‘I think it’s the right decision,’ Masters said at the Financial Times Business of Sport summit. ‘The situation has escalated incredibly quickly over the last seven days and he’s come to the right conclusion that it is unsustainable.

‘I think the quickest one (owners and directors test) we’ve ever done is 10 days. That’s not to say that record can’t be beaten. 

‘But, normally, it would take a number of weeks, and it all depends on the complexity of the deal and the number of potential owners. 

‘So, provided that the information is easily digestible, easily understandable, gives us all the right answers, it could be done relatively quickly.’