The ongoing ownership saga took a fresh twist on Friday as they decided on their preferred bidder despite a last-gasp bid Jim Ratcliffe to take control of the Stamford Bridge club
Image: TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea’s possible future took another wild twist on Friday as Britain’s richest man Jim Ratcliffe made an offer to buy the club, confusing proceedings.
Shortly after though, it was reported that the Blues had decided on their preferred bidder form the three American-backed bids that had so been lodged to become the successor to Roman Abramovich. The Russian oligarch is in the process of selling the club after being sanctioned by the UK Government.
Meanwhile, there is some developing transfer news regarding Thursday night’s man of the match in the 1-1 draw with Manchester United, Reece James. The England defender appears to have peaked their interest during the recent Champions League quarter-final.
Mirror Football brings you the latest Chelsea headlines.
Real Madrid target James
Chelsea defender Reece James appears to have caught the eye of Spanish giants Real Madrid. As reported by Goal, Los Blancos were pleased with what they saw from the Englishman during their recent Champions League ties, and have already approached his representatives ahead of a potential move in 2023.
Madrid’s top priority this summer is to land Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe who has entered the final months of his current deal. But they are also looking further afield, having seen James live in action, and are considering a move for just over 12 months time.
James is contracted at the club until 2025 and is said to be valued at around £50million, after last committing to a contract extension in 2020. It is said he is earning around £60,000 per week, making him one of the lowest earners in the first-team squad, alongside Mason Mount, with the pair coming through the club’s youth ranks.
Read the story in full HERE.
Ratcliffe’s bid ’causes confusion’
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the owner of petrochemical giant INEOS, made a last-gasp offer of up to £4.25bn to buy Chelsea Football Club on Friday. The 69-year-old, who is Britain’s richest man, said that the offer was submitted to Raine Group, the New York-based merchant bank overseeing the auction, on Friday morning after holding talks with the Premier League side’s chairman Bruce Buck.
“We put an offer in this morning,” Ratcliffe told The Times . “We are the only British bid. Our motives are simply to try and create a very fine club in London. We have no profit motive because we make our money in other ways.”
However, his bid is thought to have ‘confused’ those involved in the process, with concerns Ratcliffe’s offer would be allowed following extensive talks over the last three weeks.
Read the story in full HERE.
Chelsea name preferred bidder
That does not appear to be the case though, with the Telegraph reporting that Todd Boehly and his consortium have been successful with their £3.5billion offer for the club. While there has been no official confirmation from the Boehly’s consortium, Chelsea or the Raine banking group who are overseeing the sale, the America is now expected to be confirmed as the Blues’ buyer. The news comes after Stephen Pagliuca and Sir Martin Broughton, two rivals bidders, were told that they would not advance in the process.
The consortium led by Boehly, who has a background in sports ownership with his stake in the Los Angeles Lakers and the LA Dodgers, had been considered favourites from the outset. Business partner Hansjorg Wyss even went public about a potential takeover bid 24 hours before Abramovich had confirmed his intention to sell the club.
The consortium subsequently added several experienced advisory figures, including Conservative party peer Daniel Finkelstein and former chancellor George Osborne. Boehly has attended two games at Stamford Bridge over the past month; the Champions League quarter-final defeat to Real Madrid and Premier League defeat at the hands of London rivals Arsenal.
Read the story in full HERE.
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