Plans to buy Chelsea FC in progress

Global investment firm Centricus is funding another British bid to buy Chelsea, saying it wants to “maintain and support existing management”.

The Premier League club was put up for sale by Russian owner Roman Abramovich before he was sanctioned following his country’s invasion of Ukraine.

This latest bid, backed by Centricus – which has £29bn in assets – features several Chelsea season-ticket holders.

At least four consortiums have said they have bid to buy the Blues.

There is a group featuring Sir Martin Broughton and Lord Coe, and one headed by British property investor Nick Candy.

Candy increased his bid on Monday after the addition of another large international backer, a statement from his Blue Football Consortium said.

The lifelong Chelsea fan is said to have improved on his £2bn bid after a large Korean financial institution joined his consortium over the weekend.

Proof of funds have been sent to the American investment firm Raine Group, who are handling the sale.

United States interest comes from the Ricketts family, while a group consisting of Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss and Los Angeles Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly has also bid.

There are also reports that a bid from Saudi Media Group has been lodged with the Raine Group.

It is understood that those bidding will be whittled down to a shortlist this week with a sale expected before the end of the month.

Former Chelsea captain John Terry has also lent his support to a group which wants to buy 10% of the club “to make sure whoever buys Chelsea is held accountable by fans”.

Terry said: “Chelsea has been such an important part of my life for 22 years. I want to see the club’s history and heritage protected as we go into a new era with like-minded people who have the same long-term vision of building the best football club in the world and understand how important our DNA is.”

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