Chicago Cubs owners the Ricketts family and billionaire hedge-fund tycoon Ken Griffin will table a bid; parties are interested in working with Nick Candy due to his knowledge of developing property in central London
Wednesday 16 March 2022 17:10, UK
Rival bidders for Chelsea are joining together to form 'super consortiums' as the race for the club intensifies ahead of Friday's deadline.
While Sky News are reporting that the Ricketts family, who own American baseball team the Chicago Cubs, and billionaire hedge fund tycoon Ken Griffin have joined forces and will lodge a formal offer on Friday.
Sky Sports News also understands that various parties are interested in working with Nick Candy.
Candy has the funds and backers in place to make an offer for Chelsea this week. He has promised to give Chelsea fans a seat on its board if his bid to buy the Stamford Bridge club is successful.
Other bidders are particularly keen to team up with him because he is a lifelong Chelsea supporter and because of his background in developing property in central London.
Candy also held talks with former Liverpool and British Airways chairman Sir Martin Broughton, another lifelong Blues fan, about such such a deal.
In an interview with Sky Sports News before Chelsea's Premier League victory over Newcastle on Sunday, Candy revealed his passion for the club and his desire to become Roman Abramovich's successor, who was sanctioned last week after announcing his desire to sell the Blues.
"I've supported Chelsea since I was the age of four," Mr Candy told Sky Sports. "My dad was asked to play for Chelsea. I love Chelsea. I don't mind where it ends up, even if it's not with me, as long as it's in safe hands.
"One hundred per cent [the fans need to be included in ownership] and they should be involved. Both on the board and economically."
The UK Government have suggested to Chelsea they could start selling match tickets through a third party organisation to get past the sanctions placed on owner Abramovich.
The Blues cannot sell any more tickets to their fans - nor release any away tickets to visiting fans for Stamford Bridge games - under the licence handed to the Russian owner and the club last week.
Chelsea requested this weekend's FA Cup quarter-final at Middlesbrough be played behind closed doors as the lack of Blues away fans there would damage the "sporting integrity" of the fixture and the competition. However, the west London club revoked that request after strong backlash from the football community.
However, the government want to let Chelsea start selling tickets again as soon as possible and one of the proposals they are working on is to hand over responsibility for selling tickets to a third party.
A third party would oversee the distribution of tickets to ensure that Roman Abramovich was not benefiting from the proceeds in any way.
On Tuesday, the European Union imposed sanctions on Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich in new measures targeting Russia.
The EU included the Russian oligarch in its updated list of individuals facing assets freeze and travel bans due to his close links to Vladimir Putin.
As it stands, Chelsea's Champions League last-16 second leg at Lille is going ahead as scheduled on Wednesday, with talks continuing between UEFA and the EU.
A UEFA statement read: "UEFA is fully committed to always implementing relevant EU and international sanctions. Our understanding is that the present case is assessed in the context of the licence issued in the UK which allows Chelsea FC to continue minimum football activity whilst providing a safeguard that no financial gain will result for Mr Abramovich.
"We will work with the EU and relevant member states to ensure we have full clarity and remain in lockstep with all relevant and applicable measures in line with latest developments."
The Premier League also revealed on Tuesday their intention to introduce a new independent panel to scrutinise the ownership and sale of clubs - but not before Abramovich is expected to complete the sale of Chelsea.
