Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss wants to buy Chelsea, report says

By Sammy Mngqosini and Aleks Klosok, CNN

Updated 1452 GMT (2252 HKT) March 2, 2022

Hansjörg Wyss says he wants to purchase Chelsea Football Club.

(CNN)Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss says he wants to buy Chelsea.

In an interview with Swiss newspaper Blick, the 86-year-old admitted his interest in purchasing the Stamford Bridge club from Roman Abramovich, but only as part of a consortium.Chelsea did not respond to CNN's request for comment. Abramovich has recently announced plans to give the «stewardship» of the club over to trustees of the club's charitable foundation.The Russian billionaire is understood to want to retain his ownership of the club, which he has had since 2003, but is reportedly concerned about possible UK sanctions and subsequent reputational damage. Read MoreWyss says he and three other people received an offer to buy Chelsea from Abramovich, but there is no fixed selling price, according to the Swiss newspaper.Wyss is quoted in the interview as saying, «I have to wait four to five days now. Abramovich is currently asking far too much. You know, Chelsea owes him two billion. But Chelsea has no money.»Wyss, who founded medical device firm Synthes USA, insisted in the Blick interview he could only consider a deal for Chelsea with a clutch of investment partners. «I can well imagine starting at Chelsea with partners. But I have to examine the general conditions first. But what I can already say: I'm definitely not doing something like this alone. If I buy Chelsea, then with a consortium consisting of six to seven investors,» Wyss told the newspaper.READ: Russian Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich gives 'stewardship' of club over to trusteesAbramovich bought Chelsea in 2003.Since Abramovich took over the club