Sunday Times say Abramovich is plotting Chelsea sale

A look at the stories in Sunday’s newspapers involving the area’s clubs…

The Sunday Times say Roman Abramovich is planning to sell Chelsea.

The newspaper claim Abramovich has rejected an approach from Silver Lake Partners, a United States-based private equity firm which is said to have wanted to buy a minority stake in the club.

According to the Sunday Times, Abramovich’s advisers are understood to have hired a specialist investment bank to help with a strategic review and he is looking into the possibility of a multi-billion-pound sale.

Reports earlier this year suggested Abramovich rejected a £2bn bid from Ineos chemicals tycoon Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Chelsea insisted that the Russian had no plans to sell, despite speculation that he could do so following issues with his UK visa.

But the Sunday Times believe Ratcliffe’s bid was rejected because Abramovich was holding out for a bigger offer.

Meanwhile, The Sun on Sunday say Monaco want to sign Ruben Loftus-Cheek on loan before next week’s deadline despite Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri insisting the midfielder will be staying at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham is set to reject a loan move to Aston Villa, the Sunday Mirror reports.

And Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon continues to be linked with clubs.

The Sunday Express, which has repeatedly linked Sessegnon with Manchester United, say the Old Trafford club are lining up a bid for him in January.

Tottenham have shown an interest in Sessegnon and Liverpool have been linked with him.

The Sunday Express declare that United “are set to snatch him from under their noses to make a point” because the club wants “to prove that they can still be a force in the transfer market” following recent criticism of their lack of signings.

Fulham have consistently insisted that Sessegnon, 18, is not for sale.