The Arsenal Supporters' Trust is to contact Alisher Usmanov and urge him not to sell his stake in the club to majority owner Stan Kroenke amid concern that a full takeover has become an imminent possibility.

The issue was the main talking point at a meeting on Monday might of Arsenal fans and communication is now being sought with Usmanov in which he will be told by supporters that his presence still represents an important check and balance within the club’s ownership structure.

Usmanov owns around 30 per cent of shares and has always previously said that he will not sell his stake, even though he has forged no relationship with Kroenke and has no seat on the club’s board of directors.

Kroenke turned down a £1 billion offer for his 67 per cent stake from Usmanov earlier this year and, like his fellow billionaire, has always publicly stressed that there is no prospect of him selling. Usmanov’s business partner, Farhad Moshiri, did previously share the Arsenal investment but he sold his shares to Usmanov in 2016 and now owns a 49.9 per cent stake in Everton.

USM Holdings, which Usmanov founded in 2012 alongside Moshiri, also now sponsors Everton’s training ground as part of a package of commercial deals worth up to £75 million. The concern among members of the AST is that Usmanov has become frustrated with his situation at Arsenal and will seek to join Moshiri at Everton. If Usmanov were to value his Arsenal shares at the same price as the offer he made earlier this year, it would cost Kroenke around £500 million.