Arsenal: Spotify owner Daniel Ek’s takeover bid to arrive ‘within days’

A takeover bid at Arsenal that has gathered incredible pace in just a short space of time is set to be officially lodged as Spotify owner and billionaire Daniel Ek will make a £1.8bn offer ‘within days’.

Stan Kroenke’s ownership of Arsenal has been a resounding failure, albeit not in their eyes. In the ten years since taking a majority share of the club, results have worsened, the quality has dropped and mass changes at boardroom and recruitment level have played their part in an undeniable decline.

A lack of stability coupled with no personal investment has contributed to Arsenal falling by the wayside in Europe and the Premier League, with the ill-fated Super League breakaway being the straw that broke the camel’s back for fans.

Legends such as Ian Wright and Thierry Henry have spoken out against the Kroenke’s, with the latter being enlisted by Ek along with Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Vieira to launch a stunning takeover.

Spotify owner Daniel Ek’s Arsenal takeover bid to arrive ‘within days’

The lifelong Arsenal fan has ‘thrown his hat into the ring‘, with ITV revealing that his bid is set to be worth £1.8bn and arrive ‘within days’. It’s fairy tale stuff for supporters who’ve pined for the Kroenke’s to sell up for years despite the American owners categorically stating on numerous occasions they have no intention of doing so.

Speculation had it that £2bn would be enough to tempt KSE’s hands, even if David Ornstein insisted they see Arsenal as the ‘jewel in their crown’ and it would take something astronomical for them to sell.

Given the bid will fall short of what sources claim KSE will want, it may well be one to test the waters and gauge the response. However, £1.8bn is close to what Arsenal were worth when Kroenke completed his takeover in 2018, and it would constitute a profit with the majority of his shares being bought at a lower price.

Nonetheless, given Forbes value Arsenal at £2bn and with the aforementioned expectations from KSE, it looks set to be a teasing first offer.

The Swede’s move has been welcomed by the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust who have called for fans to be represented on the board, a move that was even discussed by the Prime Minster who is looking to bring in new legislation to limit what control owners have without fan approval.

"Tim Payton of the AST told ITV: “The names I’ve heard this morning certainly tick those boxes.”"

It’s not known whether Ek’s takeover bid will include fans having representation on the board, but it has been revealed that Henry, Bergkamp and Vieira will be included in the setup. Without speculating too greatly, the three legends will almost certainly back the idea of having fans included in some capacity.

Being picked up across the British media, these are genuine intentions that are being put into place. How likely it is to succeed is another matter, but the concept itself is magical and fans are starting to dream, no matter how premature.