Spotify CEO Contacted Arsenal For Takeover Offer – Thierry Henry
Spotify chief executive and founder Daniel Ek has contacted Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke’s family to make an offer to buy the Premier League club, Arsenal legend Thierry Henry said.
Ek said last week he had secured the funds to buy Arsenal, valued at $2.8 billion according to Forbes.
But the club’s American owners, under fire from fans following the North London outfit’s failed attempt to form a breakaway European Super League, in a statement dismissed talk of a sale in response to Ek’s interest.
“In recent days we have noted media speculation regarding a potential takeover bid for Arsenal Football Club,” the statement read. “We remain 100 per cent committed to Arsenal and are not selling any stake in the club. We have not received any offer and we will not entertain any offer. “
“Our ambition for Arsenal remains to compete to win the biggest trophies in the game and our focus remains on improving our competitiveness on the pitch to achieve this.”
Arsenal fans are however open to a change in ownership.
According to reports, Arsenal greats Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Vieira were backing Ek’s bid.
“He (Ek) already reached out (to the Kroenke family) and said himself that he had collected the funds to make sure that he can put in a good bid,” Henry said.“They now need to listen.”
“A lot of people have been screaming that they want the owner out. We are trying to offer a solution involving the fans and getting the DNA of the club back.
“One thing that I want to reiterate is that Daniel will not move away, he will be there waiting to see if they want to sell,” Henry added.
“That is going to take a very long time, we know what we want to do, but first and foremost we need to make sure that we can take over, if they are listening.”
Spotify and Arsenal both declined to comment on Henry’s observations.
Arsenal were among six English clubs who signed up for the proposed European Super League project before withdrawing amid a storm of protest from fans, players and the British government.
The club are ninth in the Premier League standings and will face Villarreal in the semi-finals 2nd leg of the Europa League on Thursday.
Chidi Nwoke/Reuters.
