The finalised shortlist of preferred bidders for Chelsea is ‘expected’ within 24 hours, with the British-led consortium fronted by Nick Candy having increased their proposal for the west London side.
The Raine Group, the American bank overseeing the sale of the Premier League side, set a deadline for bids to be lodged on Friday and are now in the process of reviewing the submitted proposals as a quick sale is targeted following the UK government sanctions placed on owner Roman Abramovich.
Sky Sports are reporting that the consortium led by Candy, Blue Football Consortium, is expected to be named on the final shortlist with the boyhood Chelsea fan having increased his initial £2bn bid for the club after receiving additional backing from a large Korean financial institution.
Candy’s proposal includes discussions to include greater involvement of the fans, having held talks with tech platform PrimaryBid over a platform that would enable fans and employees access to buy a stake in the club.
Speaking on the concept, Candy said: “This remains a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to give football back to the fans and put them at the heart of the operations and strategy of Chelsea Football Club.
“We are committed to preserving the incredible legacy of the club and to promoting community involvement, and we can provide the financial stability to ensure the future growth of the club on the world stage.”
Other bidders for Chelsea include Centricus, A British-funded bid involving Chelsea season-ticket holders, and the Chicago Cubs owners the Ricketts family. Sir Martin Broughton, the former chairman of Liverpool, has also submitted an offer.
