Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov denies claims he is set to sell 30 per cent Gunners stake to majority owner Stan Kroenke amid £525m bid reports

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Alisher Usmanov has insisted he has no plans to sell his 30 per cent stake in Arsenal to majority shareholder Stan Kroenke, amid supporters' fears the Gunners were moving towards single ownership. 

Reports have suggested Kroenke Sports Enterprise UK are set to offer some £525million to buy the 18,695 shares held by Usmanov's Red and White Securities Limited, but the billionaire has insisted he has not held any talks with the American. 

Usmanov has once again stated he is not willing to part with his stake in the Premier League club, but the second largest individual shareholder has not been given a seat on the board and it appears unlikely that situation will change.

Alisher Usmanov, pictured with Russian President Vladimir Putin, owns 30 per cent of Arsenal

Stan Kroenke's company were said to be making a move to buy Usmanov's shares in Arsenal

Usmanov has previously made a formal £1billion bid to buy Arsenal, which he says remains on the table. 

He issued a statement on Wednesday denying any plans to sell to Kroenke, instead insisting he still sees Arsenal as a long-term project and that he remains interested in adding further shares if they became available. 

He did, however, concede he would consider selling is stake if a party sharing his vision for the club came forward. 

The statement read: 'In recent days there has been speculation relating to a possible offer for my 30 per cent stake in Arsenal. As part of that I can understand the anxiety that these rumours are causing to the fans as reflected by the Arsenal Supporters' Trust.

The Uzbekistan billionaire has previously stated he is unwilling to part with his Arsenal stake

'In light of this, I would like to be clear that I am not holding any talks with Mr Kroenke about a sale. My interests in Arsenal from the beginning was long term and my intention has always been to buy additional shares should they become available.

'This I did with the purchase of the stake of my business partner Farhad Moshiri, with which I increased my shareholding from 15 per cent to 30 per cent, and also with my proposed offer for the stake of the majority shareholder which valued the club at some $2bn. That offer remains valid today.

'I have always been and will continue to be an ardent supporter of Arsenal and I see my 30 per cent stake as an important aspect in protecting the best interests of the fans in the club. 

'It has been well documented that I have no say in the running of the club, that my views differ from those of the majority shareholder and that I would take a different approach to delivering football success. 

Kroenke, pictured embracing manager Arsene Wenger following May's FA Cup final victory

'I would like to assure supporters that I am open to various future scenarios - a constructive partnership with the majority shareholder, the purchase of his stake either alone or in a consortium, or if a party appears who shares my and undoubtedly the majority of fans' vision for the club, I could consider the question of selling my stake.' 

Usmanov's previous bid for full control led to a statement from KSE UK in May 2017 re-affirming their position that the 'shares are not, and never have been, for sale,' adding Kroenke's organisation was 'a committed, long-term investor in Arsenal and will remain so'.

The Arsenal Supporters' Trust has already initiated contact with Usmanov's representatives following recent reports he may now be set to sell up and will stress the importance of his role in providing accountability.

Usmanov has previously made a £1bn offer to take full control of the Emirates-based club

Should American Kroenke ultimately obtain Usmanov's significant stock, then the remaining minority shareholders, which include the AST, have concerns over the possibility of Arsenal becoming a privately-owned company, so therefore not required to hold an Annual General Meeting, the next of which is set for October 26.

The 2016 policy statement on the AST website reads: 'The AST continues to believe that Arsenal is too important to be owned by any one person. The best ownership model for Arsenal will always include supporters being represented and involved in the ownership structure as shareholders.

'We understand the reality that any stake in Arsenal is available to buy at any time should someone make an acceptable bid, but we will oppose any attempt to buy the club outright and take it into single ownership.'