Chelsea Owner Considered Making Tottenham Purchase

Roman Abramovich considered purchasing Tottenham Hotspur before eventually deciding to buy Chelsea, according to former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Abramovich took control of Chelsea in June of 2003, making the purchase from Ken Bates who then went on to buy Leeds United with the money from the sale.

The Russian billionaire has turned around the fortunes of the west London club, and in 2012 the side finally won an elusive first Champions League trophy to become the kings of Europe in Abramovich's ninth year in charge of the side.

The 47-year-old has been integral in Chelsea's success and in the running of the club, becoming famous for his impatience with managers and influence over their transfer decisions.

But things could have been very different had Eriksson advised Abramovich to take over Tottenham rather than Chelsea, with the former England and Manchester City manager claiming that the question was put to him.

Eriksson told The Sun: "He was thinking Chelsea or Tottenham. He phoned me and said, "Who shall I buy?

"I said if you want to win the league then Chelsea - because you only have to change half the team.

"At that time with Tottenham maybe you would have had to change the whole team."

Tottenham have consistently pushed for a top four finish in recent seasons but the side are yet to reach the heights of Chelsea who are consistently challenging for major honours.