Conor McGregor announces massive Chelsea takeover plan amid £3bn Roman Abramovich sale talk

UFC icon and self-confessed Man United fan Conor McGregor could be a very different option to buy the Premier League club with the fighter setting his sights on the Blues

UFC fighter Conor McGregor has said that he wants to “explore” buying Chelsea as Roman Abramovich reportedly seeks a £3billion valuation for the club amid Todd Boehly and Hansjorg Wyss sale rumors. It is expected that Abramovich is looking to spark a number of bids, as per the Independent, to ensure that the most interested party has the right intentions when purchasing a club that has done so well since the Russian takeover in 2003.

It is understood that around eight parties are currently in the running to take on the responsibility of leading the club through their next chapter and the latest to throw his hat into the ring is Irishman McGregor.

Like Ratcliffe, both are Man United fans meaning there are two shots for a potential Red Devils supporter to own a club that has been more successful than United since Sir Alex Ferguson retired back in 2013. McGregor himself had already expressed an interest in buying his beloved club when he tweeted last year: “Hey guys, I’m thinking about buying Manchester United! What do you think?”

Whether McGregor would be able to generate the funds necessary to launch a bid for the club is another matter, though Forbes estimated that the fighter earned around $180million (£134.7million) over the 12 months leading up to May 2021, topping their list of highest-earning athletes.

Wyss claimed that he is one of the potential buyers of the club when he told Blick: “[Abramovich] wants to get rid of Chelsea quickly. I and three other people received an offer on Tuesday to buy Chelsea from Abramovich.”I have to wait four to five days now. Abramovich is currently asking far too much. You know, Chelsea owe him £2billion [it is £1.5billion]. But Chelsea has no money. That means: those who buy Chelsea should compensate Abramovich.

“As of today, we don’t know the exact selling price. 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.”