Roman Abramovich may reportedly perform a U-turn with regards to a loan that he has previously provided Chelsea.
Throughout his 19-year reign at Stamford Bridge, the Russian oligarch has frequently invested money into the Premier League club, a total which is said to have reached £1.6bn.
When Abramovich announced that he was putting the West London outfit up for sale, he specifically stated that he would not be asking for the funds to be repaid.
However, according to The Times, it appears that Abramovich may have changed his mind, a stance which will only further complicate the race to find a replacement.
Last week, it was widely reported that Todd Boehly had emerged as the preferred bidder by US merchant bank Raine Group, who have been tasked with finalising a takeover as soon as possible.
As it stands, further discussions are likely to take place as planned, but the latest development could hinder the efforts for a sale to be made official by the end of May, when a special government licence is due to expire.
Darren Plant
