JAKARTA – A close friend of former United States President Donald Trump, Woody Johnson, has reportedly launched a final offer to buy Chelsea FC.
Woody was previously the United States Ambassador to Britain until last year. He reportedly made a bid of 2 billion pounds, or equivalent to IDR 37.3 trillion to get the West London club from Roman Abramovich who was sanctioned in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The nominal bid submitted by Woody is clearly still inferior to the Saudi Media Group, which also has the intention of buying the club nicknamed The Blues. Currently Saudi Media Group is known to have launched their offer worth £2.7 billion or IDR 50.4 trillion.
Nonetheless, Woody hopes to beat Saudi Media Group before Friday's deadline. The 74-year-old tycoon is very sure he can become the owner of Chelsea because of his close relationship with the city of London.
Apart from being a former American ambassador to England, Woody, who has owned the New York Jets american football team for 22 years, is very confident that he can raise Chelsea's profile in the American market.
"What Chelsea need right now is longevity and stability when it comes to new owners. Woody and his team think they can provide that," one football source told The Sun.
"He runs the Jets successfully and knows a lot about the sports industry. And he's spent the last four years in London and knows the club well."
Woody whose full name is Robert Wood Johnson is the heir to the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical dynasty. He and his family are estimated to have a total wealth of 28 billion pounds, equivalent to IDR 373 trillion.
So far, Woody and the Saudi Media Group have been potential contenders for Chelsea. Saudi and a consortium led by property developer Nick Candy made the offer on Monday.
However, the deal was complicated by sanctions imposed on current owner Roman Abramovich for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. That means the British government must take responsibility for the sale of the Blues.
Government responsibility opens the possibility of the club being sold for less than the £3 billion (Rp56 trillion) desired by Abramovich.
Chelsea itself has lost a major sponsor in this week. Sponsors that have so far decided to leave Chelsea include Hyundai, telecommunications company Three and grocery delivery partner Zapp.
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