Former Chelsea defender Tal Ben Haim is brokering a deal for a Gulf-based billionaire to buy the club, according to reports.
With the deadline to submit a bid to buy the club looming, following the government's decision to sanction owner Roman Abramovich due to his links with Russian president Vladimir Putin, the Blues have reportedly yet another offer on the table involving Ben Haim. TalkSPORT claim that he is helping a billionaire who has submitted a £2billion offer and promised a further £500million in funds in an effort to pip the likes of Nick Candy, Sebastian Coe and a three-man consortium to win the race.
Bidders have until 9pm on Friday to submit an offer, with the government effectively in control of Chelsea, who are operating under a special license in order to continue with certain aspects of their business. Abramovich put the Blues up for sale more than a fortnight ago prior to the UK government sanctions amid the war in Ukraine, having bought the club in 2003 for £140m before super-charging them to the top of European football.
US Bank Raine Group has been overseeing the process of the sale and will make a decision on the preferred bidder. Downing Street will step in once they have received satisfactory evidence that Abramovich, last spotted at an Israeli airport before jetting off to Turkey, will not make any financial gain.
Once the government give the green light, the prospective buyer must pass the Premier League's Owners' and Directors' Test before completing their takeover. Reuters report that one bidder, London-based financial firm Aethel Partners, have already tabled an offer of over £2bn for Chelsea, confirming that they will provide Chelsea with an immediate sum of £50m to help deal with any short-term financial issues.
And British property developer Candy - a boyhood Blues fans - has been joined by former Chelsea striker and manager Gianluca Vialli in his effort, while Coe, president of World Athletics, entered the fray on Wednesday evening by enlisting the help of ex- Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton.
Join the debate! Would Ben Haim's billionaire pal be a good option for Chelsea? Give us your verdict here.
"I am certain that Sir Martin is the right man to lead Chelsea Football Club into its next chapter," Coe said in a statement. "He has an exceptional track record in British business, as well as unrivalled experience in shepherding Liverpool out of a very difficult situation. He has the vision, acumen and financial backing to ensure our club’s future success, keeping Chelsea Football Club at the top of European football and challenging for trophies."
Swiss billionaire Hansjoerg Wyss, one of the first to declare interest, has linked up with LA Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly and been joined by British businessman Jonathan Goldstein and Conservative peer Daniel Finkelstein. "I'm passionate about Chelsea to the point of eccentricity," Finkelstein wrote on Twitter.
"I want owners who will invest but are also insightful and use modern methods to keep our club on top of the world. I believe Todd Boehly would be just such an owner." The owners of baseball giants the Chicago Cubs, the Ricketts family, have also teamed up with Citadel founder Ken Griffin to work on a bid to buy the Blues ahead of the looming deadline.
