There is anger from Steve Pagliuca’s camp about claims his bid to buy Chelsea will be dismissed this week, leaving the consortiums led by Todd Boehly and Sir Martin Broughton to battle it out for the club.
US merchant bank Raine Group are deliberating over the three remaining contenders ahead of presenting a preferred bidder to the UK Treasury to issue a licence for Roman Abramovich to sell.
Pagliuca - who co-owns the NBA's Boston Celtics and Serie A outfit Atalanta - is understood to remain in contention, having joined up with Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) chairman Larry Tanenbaum and attracted investment from the likes of Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin and former Disney CEO Bob Iger as well as securing the support of the John Terry-led True Blues Consortium.
Last week, Pagliuca and Tanenbaum promised lifetime ownership of Chelsea if their bid proved to be successful.
“Larry and I have known each other for over 20 years and we are committed to this being a lifetime ownership. It is a long-term commitment that both families want to make,” Pagliuca said.
Earlier this month, the crowded race to purchase Chelsea was whittled down further after a consortium led by the Ricketts family withdrew from contention.
The owners of baseball's Chicago Cubs had partnered with American billionaires Ken Griffin and Dan Gilbert in a bid to take over at Stamford Bridge, though were unable to reach agreement to go ahead with a final offer for the club.
The two consortiums rivalling Pagliuca and Tanenbaum are led by LA Dodgers co-owner Boehly and former Liverpool and British Airways chairman Broughton.
