The Middle Eastern group aiming to buyout Arsenal are convinced Stan Kroenke is looking for an escape route. The group get no sense that the American is an Arsenal fan or that he is particularly interested in the day-to-day workings of the club.
Kroenke, they say, is not in it because he has a passion for the game, he is there to make money.
They think the reason Kroenke's son Josh - who is inexperienced in football - has taken on a bigger role with the Gunners is because the man dubbed 'Silent Stan' wants to take a step back. Consequently, it is thought that the businessman in Kroenke might well tell him that with a nice £350m profit on offer, it is time to go.
A bid source told The Sun: "Arsenal is in a critical position at the moment.
"The club can either start going forward or backwards in a way that Liverpool did under Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
"Liverpool got into a circle of decline and the same will happen with Arsenal.
"It is not healthy for Kroenke to have no dealings with Alisher Usmanov.
"That is causing the club great difficulties and this bid would resolve that.
"The £20,000-a-share offer will be there for Usmanov as well, providing Kroenke agrees to do a deal."
