The four groups interested in buying Chelsea will discover the winning bid next week, as the quartet face an anxious wait to discover whether their proposal has been successful.
Improved and finalised offers were submitted on Thursday and a decision is expected on a successful bid next week, with Roman Abramovich and the club’s board assessing each proposal before a preferred candidate is submitted to the UK Government.
The Raine Group, the US Bank handling the sale, will take a preferred bidder to the Government next week with the successful proposal not necessarily the highest bid.
According to the Guardian, Abramovich and the club’s board will have Chelsea’s future and wellbeing at the forefront of their decision.
The bidders looking to end Abramovich’s 19-year reign at Stamford Bridge include a British-based consortium fronted by Lord Sebastien Coe and Sir Martin Broughton, the former Liverpool and British Airways chairman. Their proposal has also received the backing of Josh Harris and David Blitzer, the owners of the Philadelphia 76ers basketball team, with each of the quartet possessing backgrounds in American sports.
There is also an offer from the Ricketts family, who own the Chicago Cubs and have teamed up with Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert and hedge fund tycoon Ken Griffin.
LA Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly and Steve Pagliuca, the owner of the Boston Celtics, make up the remainder of the quartet of interested bidders.
The Premier League will conduct its fit and proper owners test before a takeover is finalised, whilst the government’s focus will be on ensuring no money from the sale goes to Abramovich, following the sanctions placed on the Chelsea owner amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
