Alisher Usmanov has spent more than £2million on Arsenal shares in the past week as the power battle between the Uzbek billionaire and majority shareholder Stan Kroenke rumbles on.
Usmanov has been buying shares at a higher price - up to £14,000 compared to Kroenke's offer of £11,750 - for weeks and has taken his stake in the club up to 27.37 per cent.
Even if all the remaining shareholders sold to Usmanov - which is highly unlikely - the best he could hope for is a stake of around 35 per cent, which would make little difference to his influence at the club given Kroenke controls 64 per cent of the shares.
Although Usmanov's influence would be negligible in the boardroom, his continued pursuit of shares underlines his refusal to walk away from Arsenal.
Nonetheless, the Uzbeki will hope that Kroenke will not be able to increase his stake beyond the current level. Usmanov's latest purchase offer is also a message to the 8.66 per cent of independent shareholders that he would like them to either retain their shares or sell to his Red & White investment vehicle.
Meanwhile, Arsenal today announced they will play Chinese Super League side Hangzhou Greentown on July 16 on the second leg of their pre-season tour to Asia.
Chief executive Ivan Gazidis said: "We are delighted to be returning to China [for the first time since 1995]. It will be a wonderful experience for the club and our players, many of whom will be visiting China for the first time."
Arsenal announced yesterday they will take on a Malaysia XI in Kuala Lumpur on July 13.
