Chelsea have interest from nine parties ahead of Friday’s deadline for takeover bids.
Chelsea have been up for sale since the beginning of the month following the government sanctions placed on Russian owner Roman Abramovich, amid the billionaire’s alleged ties to Vladimir Putin.
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The Raine Group, a US bank, and the UK government are overseeing a sale and the focus is understood to be on the owner who would be the best fit for Chelsea – and not the size of the bid – given that money made from the club’s sale would no longer go to Abramovich.
The Mirror are reporting that there are nine leading parties in the frame ahead of the deadline for proposals, with the British interest led by a consortium including property tycoon Nick Candy – a boyhood Chelsea fan who has the backing of US investors – and a rival party which includes former Liverpool chairman Sir Martin Broughton.
There is also substantial interest from the United States including the owner of the NFL’s New York Jets, Woody Johnson, and the Ricketts family, who own the MLB’s Chicago Cubs.
A proposal is also expected from a Saudi Media Group, Ghanian gold mine owner Bernard Antwi Boasiako and Turkish billionaire Muhsin Bayrak.
Chelsea are also currently in discussions with the government over an amendment to their current operating licence, with fans currently not permitted to buy tickets with only season-ticket holders allowed to attend games at present.
The west Londoners face Middlesbrough in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, before returning to Premier League action against Brentford on April 2.
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