Africa's richest man wants to buy Arsenal

/COURTESY

• The Nigerian billionaire believes Stan Kroenke could sell
• The first thing he would do if acquires the club, is to fire Manager- Arsene Wenger

Africa's richest man has expressed a desire to buy Arsenal, report football.london.

The 60-year-old Nigerian billionaire has a fortune believed to total around $12.9billion (£10bn), he is also an ardent Arsenal fan.

Aliko Dangote has never hidden his desire to take control at the Emirates and insists he will make his move once the construction of an $11bn oil refinery in Lagos is completed.

And should he tempt Stan Kroenke into doing business, he says the first thing he would do would be to dismiss Arsene Wenger.

“The first thing I would change is the coach,” Dangote told Bloomberg . “He has done a good job, but someone else should also try his luck.”

Kroenke currently owns 67 per cent of Arsenal and insists he has no intention of selling up.

Alisher Usmanov, who has a 30 per cent shareholding, launched a takeover bid in May — offering the Russian $1.3bn to sell his shares.

But Kroenke issued a statement reiterating he plans to be at Arsenal for the long-term.

Dangote, however, is adamant he would be able to tempt both billionaires into doing business.

“If they get the right offer, I’m sure they would walk away,” he said. “Someone will give them an offer that will make them seriously consider walking away.