Chelsea’s outgoing owner Roman Abramovich has called upon the three remaining bidders hoping to secure a deal to buy the Premier League giants to contribute £500 million ($630 million) towards a fund designed to help victims of the military conflict in Ukraine if they want their bid to be successful, according to reports.
The deal to sell the football club is understood to be in its final stages – but the late request to alter the takeover is said to have come during meetings between Abramovich’s representatives and the three remaining bidders on Thursday in London.
While reports indicate that the various consortia were surprised by the request, the £500 million won’t be additional funds on top of the asking price but rather money that will go towards a charitable foundation instead of being pumped into the football club itself.