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Last Updated: Tuesday, 2 October 2007, 18:25 GMT 19:25 UK
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I want to buy Arsenal - Usmanov
Usmanov initially said he wanted to increase his stake to 25%
Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov has revealed for the first time that he has long-term ambitions to buy Arsenal.
Usmanov recently raised his stake in Arsenal to 23% but indicated that he had no plans for a takeover.
The 54-year-old has now changed his tune but added that nothing would happen in the immediate future.
"We don't have the capacity today, but this is business and life is changing," he said. "Something that you can't do today, maybe you can do tomorrow."
Report: Usmanov keen to buy Gunners
Interview: Arsenal chief executive Keith Edelman
Arsenal chief executive Keith Edelman told BBC 5live on Sunday that after discussions with Usmanov, he did not expect the Russian to launch a takeover bid.
But in a press briefing on Tuesday, Usmanov said if other major shareholders agreed to sell, he would buy their shares if the price was right.
If a significant shareholder sells, the whole dynamic changes
Farhad Moshiri, Usmanov's business partner
Usmanov's stake, held in company Red and White Holdings Limited (RAWHL), makes him the club's second largest shareholder behind Danny Fiszman, who owns just over 24%.
However, Fiszman and fellow board members Peter Hill-Wood, Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith and Richard Carr have a so-called "lockdown agreement" not to sell their shares until April 2008 at the earliest.
The quartet currently account for 45% of the club's shares, so their agreement is key to any takeover bid Usmanov might make.
Usmanov and business partner Farhad Moshiri are hopeful their stance will change at some point.
"If a significant shareholder sells, the whole dynamic changes," said Moshiri, who co-owns RAWHL with Usmanov.
"But it depends on the price. If the lock-down agreement is not renewed, then it is a new environment."
BBC sports editor Mihir Bose believes Usmanov is trying to test the Arsenal shareholders' resolve.
606: DEBATE
Your thoughts on Usmanov's revelations
"At this point, Usmanov's game is clear: he wants to get up to a 25% share, which would mean the current board cannot change the way the club is run without his say-so," he said.
"But in the long-term, he is hoping that he will offer enough money that somebody on that board will think it's not a bad idea to sell.
"From Arsenal's point of view, they feel Usmanov is giving rather contradictory statements. One minute he's saying he's happy with the current board, the next he's saying maybe he'd bid if the situation opens up.
"Clearly the Arsenal board are looking at what the Russian is up to. It's also very clear that they don't want to sell at the moment.
"And as long as the board members are united and don't sell, they've got over 50% and nobody can take over Arsenal."
Last week, Arsenal published their annual financial results to 31 May 2007, which showed income had soared 46% to 200.8m, up from 137.2m a year before.
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E-mail this to a friend Printable version
I want to buy Arsenal - Usmanov
Usmanov initially said he wanted to increase his stake to 25%
Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov has revealed for the first time that he has long-term ambitions to buy Arsenal.
Usmanov recently raised his stake in Arsenal to 23% but indicated that he had no plans for a takeover.
The 54-year-old has now changed his tune but added that nothing would happen in the immediate future.
"We don't have the capacity today, but this is business and life is changing," he said. "Something that you can't do today, maybe you can do tomorrow."
Report: Usmanov keen to buy Gunners
Interview: Arsenal chief executive Keith Edelman
Arsenal chief executive Keith Edelman told BBC 5live on Sunday that after discussions with Usmanov, he did not expect the Russian to launch a takeover bid.
But in a press briefing on Tuesday, Usmanov said if other major shareholders agreed to sell, he would buy their shares if the price was right.
If a significant shareholder sells, the whole dynamic changes
Farhad Moshiri, Usmanov's business partner
Usmanov's stake, held in company Red and White Holdings Limited (RAWHL), makes him the club's second largest shareholder behind Danny Fiszman, who owns just over 24%.
However, Fiszman and fellow board members Peter Hill-Wood, Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith and Richard Carr have a so-called "lockdown agreement" not to sell their shares until April 2008 at the earliest.
The quartet currently account for 45% of the club's shares, so their agreement is key to any takeover bid Usmanov might make.
Usmanov and business partner Farhad Moshiri are hopeful their stance will change at some point.
"If a significant shareholder sells, the whole dynamic changes," said Moshiri, who co-owns RAWHL with Usmanov.
"But it depends on the price. If the lock-down agreement is not renewed, then it is a new environment."
BBC sports editor Mihir Bose believes Usmanov is trying to test the Arsenal shareholders' resolve.
606: DEBATE
Your thoughts on Usmanov's revelations
"At this point, Usmanov's game is clear: he wants to get up to a 25% share, which would mean the current board cannot change the way the club is run without his say-so," he said.
"But in the long-term, he is hoping that he will offer enough money that somebody on that board will think it's not a bad idea to sell.
"From Arsenal's point of view, they feel Usmanov is giving rather contradictory statements. One minute he's saying he's happy with the current board, the next he's saying maybe he'd bid if the situation opens up.
"Clearly the Arsenal board are looking at what the Russian is up to. It's also very clear that they don't want to sell at the moment.
"And as long as the board members are united and don't sell, they've got over 50% and nobody can take over Arsenal."
Last week, Arsenal published their annual financial results to 31 May 2007, which showed income had soared 46% to 200.8m, up from 137.2m a year before.
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