Granovskaia ‘threatened’ by top agent

Police are investigating a threatening email sent to former Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia by a leading British agent and an attempt to blackmail her.

Granovskaia, former owner Roman Abramovich’s right-hand woman at Chelsea, is said to have received the correspondence while working on the sale of the club to the consortium fronted by Todd Boehly. According to The Times, the agent made the threat while demanding £300,000 for what he considered to be his role in a transfer. He was said to have written: “I will make you pay for the way you have been. That’s not a threat… it’s a promise. If Chelsea don’t pay it’s on you…

“I will give you the chance to make things correct if you apologise for your behaviour towards me. If you don’t then I promise you I will make you pay for the way you have been with me on a personal and business level. This is a promise that I give to anybody who f---s/tries to f--- me over in anything in life.” A solicitor acting for the agent said his client “strenuously denies the allegation” and “has not been charged with any offence at this time”.

Granovskaia was said to have informed Chelsea and the Metropolitan Police of the email, leading to the author’s arrest and subsequent release on bail. Police last night said they were investigating an allegation of blackmail against Granovskaia.