THE deadline for any potential owners to place their bids in hope of purchasing Chelsea football club is TODAY.
And the four consortiums who are in a bidding have already placed offers of around £3 billion according to reports.
With rumours circulating that three of the bids have been cash-only offers.
Stephen Pagliuca has announced NBA chairman Larry Tanenbaum as co-managing partner in his bid.
Also on his team are ex-Disney CEO Bob Iger & journalist Willow Bay, Facebook Co-Founder Eduardo Saverin & businesswoman Elaine Saverin; B Capital co-founder Raj Ganguly.
On the transfer front, Antonio Rudiger’s exit is seeming more imminent following the Blues’ disappointing Champions League exit.
Keep up to date with all of the latest updates from the takeover in our live blog…
Nou hope for United
Manchester United have been handed a boost in their pursuit of defensive reinforcements after Barcelona’s bid for Chelsea star Antonio Rudiger stalled.
Barca have emerged as the favourites to secure Rudiger in recent weeks, although he has also been linked with Real Madrid, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain.
The centre-back reportedly snubbed a £200,000-a-week contract renewal with the Blues in February, with the 29-year-old apparently seeking a more lucrative deal.
News the Blaugrana’s bid has stalled after “hesitating” over the move could open the door for United to enhance their defensive options
Statement after Abramovich freeze
The Jersey Law Officers’ Department released a statement today that read: “Search warrants were executed by the States of Jersey Police on Tuesday 12 April 2022 at premises in Jersey suspected to be connected to the business activities of Roman Abramovich.
“The Royal Court also imposed a formal freezing order on 12 April, known as a saisie judiciaire, over assets understood to be valued in excess of US$7 billion which are suspected to be connected to Mr Abramovich and which are either located in Jersey or owned by Jersey incorporated entities”
Fresh Abramovich blow
Departing Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has had £5.4billion worth of assets frozen in Jersey.
The UK government sanctioned Abramovich last month after Russia’s unjust invasion of Ukraine, with reports suggesting he has a close relationship with Russian president Vladimir Putin.
That led to the Russian oligarch putting the Blues up for sale as the government handed them a special licence to keep operating.
Now he has been hit by a freezing order in the Channel Islands while local police also searched premises that are “suspected to be connected” to him on Tuesday
Credit: GETTY IMAGES
John Terry statement
The True Blues Consortium, a Chelsea fans’ group aiming to buy 10 per cent of the club in the upcoming sale, released a statement about their endorsement of Stephen Pagliuca’s takeover bid.
Blues legend John Terry is one of the group’s founders.
A statement read: “Having engaged and being well received by all the bidders we were recently able to spend some time with Steve and Larry and getting to know their bid we’re again confident that they are aligned with Chelsea fans, and of course have experience in this area of owning sports teams.
“We feel the club are in a fortunate position with the final bidders and look forward to continuing dialogue with them”
John Terry comes in
Chelsea legend John Terry has thrown his support behind Stephen Pagliuca’s takeover bid.
Terry wants to give fans a say through shares in the club with more than 10,000 already expressing their desire to buy in.
The former centre-back is one of the founders of the True Blues Consortium, a Chelsea fans’ group aiming to buy 10 per cent of the club in the upcoming sale.
The organisation claims to have raised £150million they hope will be put towards the winning bidders’ purchase – regardless of who lands the Blues – in turn giving supporters shares.
Boston Celtics co-owner Pagliuca has been backed by Larry Tanenbaum, the chairman of the NBA, while the consortium also includes ex-Walt Disney chief Bob Iger and Eduardo Saverin, one of the founders of Facebook
After meeting with Pagliuca, Sky News report the True Blues Consortium have decided to publicly endorse that attempt to purchase the West Londoners
Chelsea bid situation
Bids for Chelsea’s takeover have reportedly ‘already reached £3billion’ as today’s deadline approaches.
It’s also claimed three of the four consortiums will make cash-only offers and avoid putting debt on the Blues.
The Times say bids led by Chicago Cubs owners Tom and Laura Ricketts and by Los Angeles Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly, plus the group fronted by Sir Martin Broughton, confirmed they have enough funding to buy the West Londoners outright.
But it’s not known how the other consortium, spearheaded by Boston Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca, plan to pay.
Real result tough for Ruben
Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek has revealed that Tuesday’s Champions League elimination by Real Madrid has been hard for the players to take.
The Blues fought back from 3-1 down on aggregate to lead 4-3 with 15 minutes remaining, only to go out 5-4 after extra time.
“We had full belief that we could pull the tie back and I think that showed in our performance because we were excellent for the most part,” said Loftus-Cheek in conversation with the club’s in-house media.
“To bring the game back and have it in our hands only for it to be taken away from us is very disappointing.
“We are proud of our performance but the overriding feeling in the dressing room is definitely one of disappointment because of the start we had.”
However, the 26-year-old insisted that the continuing issues off the pitch that are affecting the club had no impact on their European exit.
“We try not to think about the off-field things too much, to be honest, especially when you have a game of this magnitude to focus on.”
Tuchel to make Wembley changes
Thomas Tuchel admitted that his Chelsea players left everything out on the Bernabeu pitch as they crashed to Champions League heartbreak on Tuesday evening.
And the German coach now has some tough decisions to make with an FA Cup semi-final just three days away.
Tuchel will surely ring the changes after 120 epic minutes in Madrid that would have taken its toll on both the bodies and minds of his beaten Blue heroes.
Edouard Mendy, Reece James, Thiago Silva, Antonio Rudiger, Alonso, Mason Mount and Kai Havertz played the entire two hours in Spain.
However, while the Chelsea boss has options in most areas of the pitch, he may be forced into going with Marcos Alonso on the left again due to Ben Chilwell’s long-term injury.
Biggest bid not guaranteed to succeed
Raine Group will not automatically green light the biggest bid put forward for Chelsea.
The four consortia in the mix to takeover at Stamford Bridge have until this evening to finalise their financial package.
However, the investment bank overseeing the purchase of the Londoners will decide on the most suitable offer, and their choice will be made with the best interests of the football club at heart.
The New York-based group aim to analyse the four offers by the end of this month, when they will then take their preferred option to the Premier League and the government.
All four bidders are expected to submit offers in excess of £3billion.
Blues continue to scout talent
Despite the current restrictions in place at Stamford Bridge, the Chelsea hierarchy continue to plan for the future.
The Blues are currently unable to make any transactions due to sanctions placed on Roman Abramovich.
However, the club expect a takeover to go through within the next month, and anticipate a busy summer of recruitment.
Chelsea correspondent for Goal, Nizaar Kinsella, has revealed the scouts are still hard at work – and have earmarked Sevilla’s Jules Kounde, West Ham’s Declan Rice and Monaco’s Aurelien Tchouameni as their top targets.
The article also suggests that the Blues are looking at youth players at other clubs in order to bolster their academy teams, which have struggled this season.
Rudiger Chelsea departure edging nearer
Antonio Rudiger is moving closer to the Stamford Bridge exit door after Chelsea’s Champions League elimination to Real Madrid.
The Blues had hoped to convince their wantaway defender to stay with back-to-back European titles, but their quarter-final exit is now likely to hasten his departure.
The Londoners are currently unable to enter into negotiations with Rudiger, who is out of contract at the end of this season.
Instead, the German has been contacted by representatives of other clubs including Manchester United, Juventus and Bayern Munich.
Chelsea’s remaining hope of Rudiger signing a new deal revolves around the speedy and successful takeover of the club by ambitious owners.
However, sources close to the club, fear that it may all happen too late in order to tempt the 29-year-old to stay.
Gallagher may need to leave
Conor Gallagher may have to leave Chelsea if he is to fulfil his potential, according to a former Blues favourite.
Jody Morris hopes that Thomas Tuchel is able to find a regular place for the midfielder in his team next season, but fears his best option may be a move away from Stamford Bridge.
“I hope [Chelsea] bring him in with the intention of playing him,” admitted Morris, speaking exclusively to Ladbrokes at the launch of their 5-A-Side bet on Chelsea v Crystal Palace.
“Don’t just bring him back and keep hold of him to play him for ten or 15 games; you’ve got to look to the future.
“Chelsea fans won’t like me saying this, but if you’re Conor Gallagher and you’re looking at your future, you’re thinking ‘no one is guaranteed to play week-in, week-out at Chelsea’.
“Conor would want to know that the manager believes in him and is willing to give him an opportunity to showcase his talent in the first team.
“There would be a lot of takers, and I’m talking about serious takers throughout Europe, who’ll be keeping an eye on his situation. He’s certainly put himself in the shop window.”
James impresses Real Madrid scouts
On a night of sensational displays, the performance of Reece James against Real Madrid on Tuesday probably topped the lot.
And the young defender’s showing wasn’t lost on the Spanish club, who are said to have been dazzled by the 22-year-old Englishman.
James’ contribution in the Blues’ 4-3 aggregate defeat to Real led to superb striker Karim Benzema asking for the Chelsea man’s shirt at full time.
And another Madrid star – Brazilian Vinicius Junior – took to social media to congratulate James on a ‘great game’.
Now reports in Spain suggest that the LaLiga giants were ‘really impressed’ by the right-back’s performance – and consider him a star of the future.
Chelsea set for deadline day
For most football supporters, deadline day usually involves endless transfer rumours and being glued to Sky Sports News until 11pm at night.
However, this deadline day is quite different for Chelsea fans.
For weeks, billionaires have been plotting their bids to buy the London football club and the day – finally – has arrived for them to submit their final offers.
A quarter of consortia remain in the running with the Ricketts family, Sir Martin Broughton, Stephen Pagliuca and Todd Boehly at the head of each.
Once the four offers have been received, Raine Group – the New York merchant bank overseeing the sale – will present their preferred option to the Premier League and the UK Government.
Courtois: We were not lucky
Former Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has blasted claims that Real Madrid were lucky to progress from their Champions League quarter-final tie with the Blues.
Los Blancos made it through despite throwing a 3-1 first leg lead away to trail 4-3 on aggregate with 15 minutes remaining.
However, the Spaniards hit back through goals from Rodrygo and Karim Benzema to win after extra-time.
Chelsea were widely praised for their performance in the Bernabeu, but their old stopper Courtois feels suggestions that the Spaniards were fortunate are wide of the mark.
“We weren’t lucky,” claimed the Belgian after the epic contest.
“But it’s true that they were the better team [on the night]. However, we ultimately won the tie.”
Morning, Chelsea fans
Bids for Chelsea have reportedly ‘already reached £3billion’ as today’s deadline approaches.
It’s also claimed three of the four consortiums will make cash-only offers and avoid putting debt on the club.
The Times say bids led by Chicago Cubs owners Tom and Laura Ricketts and by Los Angeles Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly, plus the group fronted by Sir Martin Broughton, confirmed they have enough funding to buy Chelsea outright.
But it’s unknown how the other consortium, spearheaded by Boston Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca, plan to pay.
And in its own way, today’s off-the-field theatre could match Tuesday’s on-the-pitch drama.
Plaudits are still coming in for the awesome, epic yet ultimately agonising display that cost the holders a Champions League semi-final place.
Chelsea’s club record eighth straight away victory felt nothing like such an achievement afterwards as Real Madrid recovered from 3-0 down to lose 3-2, putting the Spaniards through 5-4 on aggregate following extra time.
Antonio Rudiger’s momentous display in central defence has heightened speculation of an exit this summer when his contract runs out.
It’s thought Manchester United, Arsenal, PSG, Barcelona and Juventus are keen.
And Lazio are tipped to pursue Ruben Loftus-Cheek after his revelatory performance in midfield.
‘Chelsea bidding already reaches £3bn’
Four consortiums are bidding for Chelsea as tomorrow’s deadline looms.
And according to agent Jon Smith in his new column for CaughtOffside, offers have already reached “around £3bn” – so could go higher.
Smith writes: “Whichever way you slice it, Chelsea look set to become the most expensive sports team ever sold.
“I was talking to a couple of the potential inbound Chelsea bidders recently and the price discussions are now around the £3bn mark, which is by far the biggest sale of a football club, anywhere, in the world.”
‘3 bidders to make cash-only offers’
Cash-only bids to buy Chelsea will come in from three of the four bidders, it’s claimed.
Ahead of tomorrow’s deadline, The Times say three consortiums are promising not to pus debt onto the Blues.
Offers led by Chicago Cubs owners Tom and Laura Ricketts and by Los Angeles Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly, plus a bid fronted by Sir Martin Broughton, reportedly have enough funding to buy Chelsea outright.
But it’s unknown how the other consortium, spearheaded by Boston Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca, plan to pay.
As good as it gets for Timo
Timo Werner’s neat goal was just the pick of his graft and craft in Chelsea’s epic exit from the Champions League at the Bernabeu last night.
And especially as it immediately followed his drought-ending double at Southampton, many pundits rate this week a turning point in the German’s Stamford Bridge career.
Step forward ex-Blues’ playmaker Joe Cole to champion the rejuvenated striker.
Former England and Liverpool midfielder Cole told BT Sport 2: “It’s a credit to him and his personality that he can come in and do this.
“No Chelsea fan will ever begrudge anything because he works his socks off, so he’s well loved, he’s respected at the club.
“This is as good as I’ve seen him at times in a Chelsea shirt. He was outstanding.”
Queue for Levi
Chelsea may not get to see the best of Levi Colwill.
The talented youngster, 19, has been a revelation on-loan at Huddersfield Town, as The Terriers push for promotion from the Championship.
His form, and current situation with the Blues, has alerted Premier League clubs that he could be available in the summer.
Everton, Leicester City, and Southampton are all keeping tabs on the centre-half, dubbed the ‘next Rio Ferdinand‘.
And it could be that Colwill leaves Stamford Bridge and establishes himself as an England international, just like his pal Marc Guehi has done some eight miles away at Crystal Palace.
Small consolation…
It won’t mean much to Chelsea’s players and fans at the moment – but last night’s 3-2 win at Real Madrid was a club record eighth away victory in a row.
The result was of course eclipsed by Real’s 5-4 Champions League quarter-final aggregate triumph – after the Blues seemed in command at 3-0 up on the evening.
But a brilliant Chelsea display DID deserve some sort of consolation.
Edinson ‘hopes Utd win Nunez race’
With Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea all linked with Darwin Nunez, it’s claimed Edinson Cavani has been pressing for the Red Devils to recruit his Uruguay team-mate since 2021.
Cavani, 35, could well depart Old Trafford in the summer, whilst 22-year-old fellow striker Nunez appears sure to quit Benfica.
And 90Min claim the PSG legend reckons that £68million-rated Nunez would be the perfect young goal-getter that many think United need.
JT backs Pagliuca bid
John Terry has thrown his support behind Stephen Pagliuca’s Chelsea takeover bid, writes JOSHUA JONES.
And the former captain wants to give fans a say through shares in the club with more than 10,000 already expressing their desire to buy in.
Terry is one of the founders of the True Blues Consortium, a Chelsea fans’ group aiming to buy ten per cent of the club in the upcoming sale.
The organisation claims to have raised £150million they hope will be put towards the winning bidders’ purchase – regardless of who lands the club – in turn giving supporters shares.
Boston Celtics co-owner Pagliuca has been backed by Larry Tanenbaum, the chairman of the NBA, while the consortium also includes ex-Walt Disney chief Bob Iger and Eduardo Saverin, one of the founders of Facebook
After meeting with Pagliuca, Sky News report the True Blues Consortium have decided to publicly endorse that attempt to purchase Chelsea.
A statement said: “Having engaged and being well received by all the bidders we were recently able to spend some time with Steve and Larry and getting to know their bid we’re again confident that they are aligned with Chelsea fans, and of course have experience in this area of owning sports teams.
“We feel the club are in a fortunate position with the final bidders and look forward to continuing dialogue with them.”
Chelsea face fight to keep Rudiger
Transfer interest in Antonio Rudiger is set to ramp up this week after Chelsea were knocked out of the Champions League.
Rudiger, 29, scored in the second leg against Real Madrid but Chelsea let their 3-0 lead slip and exited the competition.
Now the Spanish giants could rub salt in the wounds by making an approach for Rudiger in the coming days.
The centre-back is out of contract in the summer and there has been a lot of talk about his future with Chelsea desperate to keep hold of him.
Several foreign clubs are keen on Rudiger and are ready to make a move now Chelsea are out of Europe. According to reports, Rudiger was not prepared to decide his future while the Blues remained in the Champions League.
Barcelona have previously held talks with the German’s representatives about a possible move.
Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus are also said to be interested in Rudiger and might believe now is the right time to make a move.
Meanwhile, Manchester United have been monitoring Rudiger’s situation but first the club will likely need to sort out their managerial situation.
Erik ten Hag has reportedly verbally agreed to join the Red Devils on a four-year deal.
Hazard ‘rules out Arsenal move’
Chelsea legend Eden Hazard won’t even talk to Arsenal about a move, reports say.
Hazard has been tipped for at least a loan exit from Real Madrid this summer.
And the Gunners were said to be keen on the Belgium star, 31.
But in the past week Borussia Dortmund have emerged as favourites to recruit him.
Now it seems Arsenal could be totally out of the running.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
