Co-owner of the Boston Celtics Stephen Pagliuca and his consortium are so willing to buy Chelsea outright that they are willing to reluctantly give up Atalanta stake as they prepare for the next offers being submitted.
All four consortiums have been making their pitches now for a while as the April 18 deadline approaches. Todd Boehly has attended Chelsea vs Real Madrid whilst also promising that he wants to turn the club into more of a Liverpool model. The Ricketts are focussing on fan engagement and developing the stadium in their pitch whilst the Sir Martin Broughton group which contains Crystal Palace stakeholders Harris and Blitzer also want to focus on the re-development of Stamford Bridge and the further commercialisation of the club worldwide.
Pagliuca's group which is spearheaded by his own company Bain Capital and NBA Chairman Larry Tanenbaum has been one that has slightly been under the radar in recent times but the appearance of the majority Atalanta shareholder in the recent Southampton win has signalled intent ahead of the whole takeover process coming to an end in May. Now, as per Sky News, Pagliuca is willing to give up his majority share in the Serie A club in order to maintain a takeover advantage and secure Chelsea FC over his American and British counterparts.
READ MORE: Chelsea sale: UK government releases statement amid reports on bidders to take over club
In a statement provided to Sky News, Pagliuca labelled the Roman Abramovich situation as a 'disconcerting time for the football club and fans'. The statement went on to clarify: "Throughout my life and career, my ethos has always been to operate quietly, with integrity, and let my actions and results speak loudly.
"However, it is imperative to clarify and assure supporters about our bid group and its commitments, to emphasize how seriously we take our potential responsibility to Chelsea."
Pagliuca and a group of co-investors only recently bought a controlling stake in Atalanta, a shareholding that could cause complications if they and Chelsea ever appear in the same European club competition. Under UEFA rules, if two clubs majority-owned by the same entity are drawn against each other in competitions, one would have to agree to forfeit the tie meaning this promise is huge in shaking up the whole takeover race and the dynamics of it all.
If Pagliuca's consortium are to be successful, Gary Neville has labelled the three immediate things he and his business partner need to do in order to 'stabilise' the club to ensure chances of a successful season next term remains on the cards.
"They've got to make sure that they just try and keep the manager," he outlined on his latest edition of the Gary Neville podcast. "They need to keep the behind-the-scenes staff on the football side and also keep the players in place. That's the big job for Chelsea, to stabilise.
"Big upheaval in the last month or so that must have had an impact. So, I think for Chelsea, third place, making sure the new owners pick up a Champions League team and don't blow up in the last part of the season which they will do. They will get third and for me, that's a good season."
