sport news Former Unicef chief BEGS the government to approve Chelsea takeover trends now
Todd Boehly's £4.25billion takeover of Chelsea is reportedly set to be approved by the Premier League this week after the Government received promises from a former Unicef chief executive that Roman Abramovich will not benefit from the deal.
A consortium led by the US investor have agreed terms to end the Abramovich era but there was 'alarm' among ministers on Monday that the deal was at risk of 'falling apart' over the oligarch's alleged 'refusal to agree' to a proposed sale structure.
With the final deadline for a deal to go through a fortnight away, negotiations hit another snag over the £1.6bn owed by Chelsea's parent company, Fordstam Ltd, to Jersey-registered Camberley International Investments, a company with suspected links to Abramovich.
The government say they have been 'clear all along' that they will not countenance any deal that could possibly see some money end up in Abramovich's pocket.
Former Unicef UK executive director Mike Penrose has been tasked with forming the new independent foundation to which owner Abramovich wants to donate all proceeds from the Blues' sale.
But, speaking to The Telegraph, Penrose insisted 'lives are at stake' while the Government delays the process.
He also insists he would never have took on the role if Abramovich or his associates were able to influence the charity when it is eventually formed.
Todd Boehly's £4.25bn Chelsea purchase is reportedly to be approved by the Premier League
The takeover was back in doubt on Monday with Roman Abramovich refusing a sale structure
Penrose has submitted a 'scoping document' to the UK Government, outlining plans for 'the world's biggest humanitarian or conflict-affected charity' and how it will run.
He insisted he has never had direct contact with Abramovich, and revealed legal undertakings to ensure neither Chelsea nor the Blues’ current owner could ever benefit from the funds intended for the foundation.
He said: 'No one who has any association would be employed to do anything. No one could
