Takeovers never seem to happen easily. Just over 12 months ago Chelsea were able to finally get closure on an extended process following Roman Abramovich's decision to sell the Blues after two decades in charge amid club sanctions.
So everyone connected to Chelsea will recognise the frustrations of a drawn out process of interested partners and Raine Group, much like Manchester United are experiencing at the moment. The Red Devils however, finally appear close to coming to the end of the process.
Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani - Sheikh Jassim - and INEOS billionaire Ratcliffe, who also made a late attempt to hijack the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital takeover of Chelsea, have been the primary contenders.
Jassim appears to have moved ahead however and it has been suggested that he is about to enter a period of exclusivity once an announcement is made. A pivotal moment ahead of a busy summer.
With that said football.london takes a look at how the deal could impact Chelsea in the coming months.
Mason Mount progress
Manchester United are the frontrunners for Mount's signature should he depart Stamford Bridge, and while it may be no issue to come to personal terms with the Blues midfielder, coming to terms with Chelsea may be more difficult. It is deal that has come to the forefront before the transfer window is even open but also one which all parties will be hoped to be resolved without turning into a sage.
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The departure of the Glazers will give the Old Trafford club the opportunity to rely on even greater wealth, but without the same scale of debt on the club, they may also be able to be more active simply through the money they generate. It may even act as a buoy to Chelsea to remain steadfast in their valuation with new owners who could look for an early statement of intent. However, it may also leave some concern that they could afford to head elsewhere. The Blues will have to navigate a delicate balance.
Transfer market trouble
Another immediate impact could be on Chelsea's transfer plans. Manchester United's name has not been too far away from a number of Blues' targets including Moises Caicedo. Chelsea already face solid competition for Arsenal for the midfielder, while Brighton have already proved staunch negotiators in the past 12 months with Chelsea.
Erik ten Hag's side's greater spending power could ensure the Seagulls have greater leverage, even if the true battle lies with the Gunners. Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali have been able to take extraordinary action to seal transfers that have proved difficult, as seen with Mykhailo Mudryk and Enzo Fernandez, that could be more difficult to do with Manchester United on the scene.
With the Champions League-qualifiers also linked to the likes of Victor Osimhen, any of Chelsea's more ambitious targets may prove expensive.
Financial pressure
After a unique first 12 months in charge where Chelsea's owners attempted to speed up a transition whilst developing a recruitment team, the Blues will be hoping they can work in a more stable environment moving forwards. That will include implementing a solid wage structure and plan to ensure players are on commitment contracts, with those reaching less than two years on a deal either extend or depart.
The west London side have been unafraid to spend big, but have the ambition to sign players earlier rather than at their peak price moving forwards. A Manchester United takeover will produce tests across the market. While battles for individual players could prove problematic, simple salary negotiations could also be impact when the Red Devils negotiate new deals with their own players, and rivals compare their own deals to that of those at Old Trafford.
Boehly and co will have to be firm with their beliefs on the journey, and Mauricio Pochettino's coaching quality will have to stand tall to ensure that the Blues offer the best environment to create a competitive environment on the way back to attacking players via the means of the Champions League and Premier League contention.
Have your say on Chelsea's season and what comes next!
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