Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote, targets takeover of Arsenal

.  Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote has an estimated fortune of £10.4billion 

· The Nigerian was reportedly interested in buying Arsenal in 2010

· Dangote: 'I still hope, one day at the right price, that I will buy the team.'

Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote claims he still harbours hopes of one day buying Arsenal.

The Nigerian has an estimated fortune of 15billion US dollars (£10.4billion) and is reported to have wanted to buy into the Gunners when former director Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith was selling her shares in 2010.

Arsenal's current majority shareholder is American tycoon Stan Kroenke, who remains committed to the Barclays Premier League club for the long-term. Uzbek magnate Alisher Usmanov controls around 30 per cent and has also expressed no desire to offload any of his stock.

Nevertheless, Dangote, whose business interests include sugar, flour and oil, remains keen to become part of the Emirates Stadium club sometime in the future.

Speaking to Bloomberg, he said: 'I still hope, one day at the right price, that I will buy the team.

'I might buy it, not at a ridiculous price but a price that the owners won't want to resist. I know my strategy.'

Dangote, though, added no imminent bid was in the pipeline. 'We have 16billion dollars-worth of investments in the next few years. Right now I want to take my own business to a certain level. Once I finish on that trajectory, then maybe,' he said.

ALIKO DANGOTE FACTFILE 

Born: Kano, Nigeria

Age: 58 

Occupation: Chairman and CEO of Dangote Group, a diversified conglomerate with interests in cement, sugar, flour, salt, pasta, beverages and real estate.

Estimated fortune of £10.4billion

Ranked by Forbes magazine as the 67th richest person in the world 

Named Forbes Africa Person of the Year 2014

 

Francis Coquelin and Alexis Sanchez celebrate during Arsenal's 3-1 victory over Hull on Monday night 

Arsenal beat Hull 3-1 on Monday night to give themselves a good chance to finish second behind Premier League champions Chelsea, and will face Aston Villa in the FA Cup final at Wembley on May 30.

Dangote, however, suggested Arsene Wenger's side should be achieving more.

He added: '(Wenger) needs to change his style a bit. They need new direction.'