Chelsea for sale? Roman Abramovich puts £1bn Stamford Bridge plans on hold

Uncertainty surrounds Russian’s ownership
of Chelsea and the new manager

In Depth

The expansion of Stamford Bridge to a 60,000-seat capacity was
Abramovich’s master plan for the west London club.

But after his UK visa expired the BBC reports that the Russian is “unwilling to invest
in a major project in a country where he is not allowed [to]
work”.

Abramovich’s “Home Office stand-off” has left Chelsea in
“limbo”, according to The Daily Telegraph, and he has reportedly
withdrawn his UK investor visa application “in retaliation to the
hardline attitude of the Home Office”.

In a statement the club said that the decision to delay
the Stamford Bridge upgrade was because of the “current
unfavourable investment climate”.

The statement read: “Chelsea Football Club announces that
it has put its new stadium project on hold. No further
pre-construction design and planning work will occur. The club does
not have a time frame set for reconsideration of its decision. The
decision was made due to the current unfavourable investment
climate.”

Could Abramovich walk away from
Chelsea?

The uncertainty at Stamford Bridge has forced Chelsea to
deny that Abramovich could sell the Premier League club.

The Times reports that Chelsea insist
Abramovich “remained committed to the club” despite axing the plans
for the redevelopment of Stamford Bridge.

But in another article the Times adds that Abramovich would in fact “want
£1.17bn back if he sells Chelsea”. Since taking over ownership in
2003 he has invested more than £1bn in Chelsea and “continues to
support them financially”. The Sun also quotes the £1.17bn figure it would
take to buy Chelsea from Abramovich.

Since becoming an Israeli citizen earlier this week,
Abramovich can “freely travel” to the UK on his new passport and
the Independent says the day-to-day situation at
Chelsea is unchanged and it’s “business as usual”. But according to
the Jerusalem Post yesterday he has withdrawn his
application for an investor visa in the UK.

Sarri, Blanc or Zidane to replace
Conte?

Antonio Conte may have led Chelsea to FA Cup success, but
the failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League is
expected to see the Italian leave Stamford Bridge.

Abramovich is “playing a game of poker over Chelsea’s
managerial situation” according to the Telegraph, and the
“incredible situation” leaves fans fearing that the Blues are
“stuck in limbo and falling behind their rivals both off and on the
pitch”.

It was widely reported that after leaving Napoli Maurizio Sarri
would replace Conte as Chelsea’s next manager. But The Guardian claims Sarri’s situation is made
even more complicated by the fact that Chelsea have told him they
will not pay Napoli the release clause for the final two years of
his contract.

The Daily Mail suggests that Chelsea could turn to
Laurent Blanc, the former France and PSG boss. It appears that the
club have shelved plans to appoint Sarri over claims by former Inter boss Roberto Mancini that Sarri
hurled homophobic insults at him during a touchline row in
2016.

Blanc is the “prime candidate” for the Chelsea job, the
Mail reports, and is available immediately. But The Sun also suggests that Zinedine Zidane
could be a Chelsea target after the Frenchman quit Real Madrid
yesterday.

The Blues “are ready to ask” Zidane if he “wants an
immediate return to management” after his shock departure from the
European champions.