The transfer of the Chelsea club could be settled by the end of April, according to Skysports, which explains that the successful offer will be presented to the government and the Premier League for approval on April 18. The potential buyers had until last Friday to declare themselves to the American bank Raine, in charge of the sale of the club whose owner, the Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, is targeted by British and European sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
According to the BBC, six candidates appear in the first short list of potential buyers of Chelsea. Tood Boehly, owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Saudi Media Group, Sir Martin Broughton, former Liverpool chairman Nick Candy, and the Ricketts family, owners of the Chicago Blues. The list should be reduced soon. According to the English press, the consortium formed by Sir Martin Broughton is one of the favourites. He is notably supported by the president of World Athletics and boss of the 2012 London Olympics, Sebastian Coe, or American billionaires and minority shareholders of Crystal Palace, Josh Harris and David Blitzer.
The selection criteria include the height of the offer (Abramovich set the price at 3 billion pounds, or 3.6 billion euros), the speed with which the funds are made available, and the experience of the suitors in the sport. The proceeds of the sale will go to a charitable foundation or a frozen account.