The look for a new owner of Chelsea Football Club goes on following Roman Abramovich being sanctioned by the UK government last week. The 55-year-old has seen all of his assets in the country frozen, but is still looking to sell the club.
The Russian has already announced his intentions to cash-in on the current European and world champions. However, the process is now way more complicated following the sanctions, but there are still a number of interested investors, it is understood.
So, with all of this being said, scroll down for the very latest round-up of developments regarding the sale of Chelsea Football Club.
READ MORE: Chelsea face familiar FSG and Liverpool dilemma as Saudi Media and Todd Boehly make moves
Candy holds 'meeting'
Nick Candy has reportedly held a meeting with Chelsea chiefs Marina Granovskaia and Bruce Buck over the possible purchase of the football club. The 49-year-old businessman is a known supporter of the club and is keen on taking it from Abramovich in the near future.
According to Nizaar Kinsella of GOAL, a meeting with Candy, Granovskaia and Buck has already taken place over the possibility of taking over the Blues. Kinsella tweeted: "I'm told Nick Candy (possible buyer), Bruce Buck and Marina Granovskaia had a private meeting at Stamford Bridge on Sunday."
Saudi Media bid
Saudi Media have reportedly tabled an offer of around £2.7billion to buy Chelsea. The owner of the company, Mohamed Alkhereiji, is said to be a supporter of the club and is leading a private consortium as they look to take over proceedings at Stamford Bridge.
CBS Sports claim that there is support in finding funding and partners from Mohammed bin Khalid Al Saud. The 55-year-old is both the president and director of Al Faisaliah Group and has been the chairman of the board of directors of the Saudi Telecom Company since 2018.
Crystal Palace part-owner preparing offer
As per the Financial Times, Josh Harris, the US billionaire and former top executive at Apollo Global Management, is exploring a bid for Chelsea football club. Harris co-owns a portfolio of sports holdings, including a minority stake in Crystal Palace football club, alongside Blackstone executive David Blitzer.
The report adds that any bid for Abramovich’s club by Harris would likely require a divestiture from Crystal Palace. A spokesperson for Harris declined to comment.
Consortium bid
A Swiss-American consortium led by billionaires Hansjorg Wyss and Todd Boehly have reportedly submitted an official offer to buy Chelsea. That is according to Nicola Imfeld, a reporter for Blick, who added that the group remain optimistic, however, amid reported competition from Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
Zhao admission
Chinese billionaire and Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao has ruled himself out of the Chelsea ownership race for one reason in particular. According to a spokesperson close to him, running a football club is not one of his "priorities", meaning that the Blues are not likely to have a Chinese owner to succeed Abramovich.
90% chance
Turkish billionaire Muhsin Bayrak has confirmed that he has progressed with an offer to buy Chelsea from Abramovich, following the Russian's decision to put the club up for sale. "We have reached a certain stage," he confirmed in an interview with Oda TV (via Sport Witness) on Tuesday.
"Our law and finance department will start talks with theirs in London on Thursday. That’s the way it is at this point. On Thursday, we will notify the Public Disclosure Platform (KAP).
"People are talking about it, we made some progress in the talks, and the world believes we have a 90% chance of completing the deal. Abramovich thinks the same."
McGregor outlines his intentions
Conor McGregor has confirmed that he's serious about taking over Chelsea and he believes he's the 'perfect' man to replace Abramovich. "I do not speak in jest," McGregor tweeted. "I am exploring this, as I said.
"Celtic from Dermot Desmond, Manchester United from the Glazers, and now the recently up for sale Chelsea football club. All being explored. A football franchise purchase is in my future make no mistake about it."
Bayrak 'offer' confirmed
Turkish businessman Muhsin Bayrak has become the latest to confirm his interest in completing a deal for the Blues sooner rather than later. Speaking in an interview with Turkish outlet Yeni Safak, he said: "We are negotiating the terms of the purchase of Chelsea with Roman Abramovich's lawyers.
"We are in the negotiation phase for the signatures. We will fly the Turkish flag in London soon. We made our offer.
"Because of the war with Russia and Ukraine in the world. Because they find Turkey safe, they want to get most of the after-sales money in Turkey. We are planning to sign soon."
This offer has since been confirmed by his business AB Group Holding. The company's general manager told the PA News Agency: “We can definitely confirm our bid for Chelsea.
"We have forwarded our offer regarding this."
Abramovich releases takeover statement
Amid the speculation, Abramovich finally confirmed his intentions to cash-in on Chelsea in a written statement on the club's website. He said: "I would like to address the speculation in media over the past few days in relation to my ownership of Chelsea FC. As I have stated before, I have always taken decisions with the Club’s best interest at heart.
"In the current situation, I have therefore taken the decision to sell the Club, as I believe this is in the best interest of the Club, the fans, the employees, as well as the Club’s sponsors and partners."
The Russian revealed that he will not demand any loans to the club be repaid and any net proceeds from the sale will be donated to assist victims of the current conflict in Ukraine.
Boehly in talks
Whilst it remains to be seen who exactly has joined forces with Wyss as he attempts to complete a deal for the Blues sooner rather than later, one name has been confirmed as American billionaire Todd Boehly.
Boehly, the founder and CEO of investment firm Eldridge Industries, has been in contact with the 86-year-old regarding a joint-move. It was previously suggested that he was interested in a move for London rivals Tottenham Hotspur - as well as Chelsea - and was willing to pay up to $3billion (£2.25billion).
£2.5bn bid rejected as Abramovich sets deadline
Whilst Abramovich appears keen to strike a deal, it appears that he has already rebuffed bids for the club. According to Sky News, the 55-year-old rejected a £2.5bn offer for the west London club from an unidentified third party and expects to receive closer to £3billion. It is also suggested that he has set a deadline for mid-March for indicative bids with the hope that a deal could be completed by May.
