Alisher Usmanov considering selling 30 per cent share in Arsenal as takeover frustrations with Stan Kroenke grow

ALISHER USMANOV is considering selling his stake in Arsenal after finally giving up on his attempt to seize control of the club.

The Russian billionaire has been trying to become the man in charge at the Emirates while acquiring a 30 per cent stake in the club over the past eight years or so.

At the time he wanted to assume total control and launch a spending spree aiming to turn Arsenal into one of the biggest forces in world football.

But he has hit a brick wall in his attempts to persuade majority owner Stan Kroenke to engage in meaningful talks over a takeover.

And the Financial Times says he is now reaching the point where he is left with no other alternative than to cash in his shares and walk away from the Gunners

The Uzbekistan-born billionaire has found Kroenke completely unwilling to open up lines of communication for talks despite repeated attempts.

Usmanov had previously made a £990m offer to buy out Kroenke, but the American said his 67 per cent share in the Premier League club was not for sale.

Kroenke has been happy to see the value of his stake grow during his time at Arsenal, despite the club falling from power in the Premier League.

Arsenal finished a disappointing sixth last season and missed out on a Champions League qualifying spot, with manager Arsene Wenger leaving after almost 22 years at the club to be replaced by Unai Emery.

Yet off the pitch the club is in sound financial shape and with American Ivan Gazidis at the helm as chief executive, the board appear happy with the status quo.

Russia's so-called oligarchs who have relocated to London could be under threat as there have been calls to deny them access to their lifestyles following the poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal in Britain.

Usmanov and Roman Abramovich, who owns Chelsea, are the most prominent among the Russian elite living in London.