Arsenal are set to be the subject of a takeover bid from Africa's richest man sometime next year, after Aliko Dangote revealed his plans had changed from buying the Gunners this year.

Sixty two-year-old Dangote is the 96th richest man in the world according to Bloomberg's Billionaire's Index, which makes him Africa's number one on the list, and wants to buy the Premier League club.

The Nigerian won't be making a move just yet though. Speaking to Bloomberg, Dangote revealed his plans, "It is a team that yes I would like to buy some day, but what I keep saying is we have $20 billion worth of projects and that's what I really want to concentrate on," he told the David Rubenstein show.

"I'm trying to finish building the company and then after we finish, maybe some time in 2021 we can.

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"I'm not buying Arsenal right now, I'm buying Arsenal when I finish all these projects, because I'm trying to take the company to the next level."

However before fans of the Gunners start getting excited about a new owner, who's worth is valued at $14.1 billion, they should keep in mind it's not the first time he's claimed he's going to buy them.

In fact in July 2018 he claimed that he would buy the club in 2020 saying, "We will go after Arsenal from 2020... even if somebody buys, we will still go after it."

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According to the Mirror it's the fifth time in all that he's claimed he will buy the club in the future, with a claim in 2010 being the oldest occasion.

Dangote with France president Emmanuel Macron. Image: PA Images

Current owner Stan Kroenke has come under plenty of criticism in recent years with claims the club only care about making money and not winning trophies.

David Luiz, Kieran Tierney, William Saliba, Nicolas Pepe and Gabriel Martinelli were signed in the summer, whilst Dani Ceballos was loaned from Real Madrid.

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The signings haven't really paid off up until now, though Pepe has started showing better form in recent weeks but fans have remained unhappy at the ownership.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sees red against Crystal Palace. Image: PA Images

Mikel Arteta's side dropped points again at the weekend as Crystal Palace came from behind to earn a draw against the Gunners, for the second time this season.

The draw leaves the north London side in 10th place in the Premier League, 11 points outside the top four.

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