CHELSEA are still looking for a new buyer after Roman Abramovich put the club up for sale earlier this week.
An American-Swiss partnership between Tedd Boehly and Hansjorg Wyss has been touted, but Abramovich has a new bidder to entertain.
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Turkish billionaire Mushin Bayrak has said that he is in talks to buy the Blues, with negotiations well underway.
He told Turkish outlet Yeni Safak: “We are negotiating the terms of the purchase of Chelsea with Roman Abramovich’s lawyers.
“We are in the negotiation phase for the signatures. We will fly the Turkish flag in London soon.
“We made our offer. Because of the war with Russia and Ukraine in the world. Because they find Turkey safe, they want to get most of the after-sales money in Turkey. We are planning to sign soon.”
So with all that in mind, just who is the Turkish tycoon?
Who is Mushin Bayrak?
Bayrak is a billionaire who made his money as Chairman of his own company AB Group Holding, which has invested in tourism, cryptocurrency and construction.
Her’s also the leader of the Kurdish Mtiki Tribe of Bitlis, and has links with Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party.
AB Group was founded in 1999 and though originally based in Istanbul, they now also operate in Italy, Spain and Greece.
Bayrak is also said to have some investments in London, with his net worth totalling up to £8billion.
A potential sale to Bayrak would leave Boehly, who made a bid to buy Chelsea in 2019, and Swissman Wyss, in the lurch.
Boehly owns baseball team the LA Dodgers while Wyss founded medical device manufacturer Synthes Holding AG.
But Bayrak looks set to usurp both men, with the Turk hoping to wrap up the lucrative deal next week.
It’s been reported that Abramovich flew to Turkey on a private plane earlier this week to meet with Bayrak, who appears genuine in his interest of Chelsea.