SIR JIM RATCLIFFE has lodged a late £4 billion bid to complete the takeover of Chelsea according to reports.
The British billionaire approached Raine Group this morning and decided to submit a sensational last minute offer to own the club.
Meanwhile, the winning takeover bid has been delayed once again – where potential owners will now have to wait until next week.
And West Ham legend Tony Cottee believes that Declan Rice would prefer a move to Stamford Bridge over any of the other top clubs.
Keep up to date with all of the latest gossip from the takeover in our live blog…
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Bakayoko heading back to Bridge
Chelsea are set to find themselves stuck with Tiemoue Bakayoko again.
That’s because AC Milan will reportedly terminate his loan deal this summer – a YEAR early.
Nicolo Schira claims Stefano Pioli has stopped picking Bakayoko to avoid triggering a £12.5million permanent deal clause.
And the Frenchman is so far down the pecking order that Milan would rather boot him out of the San Siro altogether than keep him until 2023.
Who is Chelsea bidder Ratcliffe?
Chemical engineer Jim Ratcliffe was on the Sunday Times Rich List 2021 with a personal fortune estimated at £6.33billion.
And the Brit is now leading the race to buy Chelsea after submitting a mega £4bn bid on Friday.
But just who is the billionaire entrepeneur?
FIND OUT MORE HERE
More on Jim Ratcliffe’s bid
“We will continue to invest in the team to ensure we have a first class squad of the world’s greatest players, coaches and support staff, in the men’s and women’s games.
“And we hope to continue to invest in the academy to provide opportunity for talented youngsters to develop into first class players.
“We believe that London should have a club that reflects the stature of the city. One that is held in the same regard as Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich. We intend Chelsea to be that club.
“We are making this investment as fans of the beautiful game – not as a means to turn a profit. We do that with our core businesses. The club is rooted in its community and its fans. And it is our intention to invest in Chelsea FC for that reason.
“No further comment will be made from Sir Jim or INEOS during the bidding process.”
Full statement on Ratcliffe bid
“Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chairman of Ineos, has made a formal bid for Chelsea FC, for £4.25bn. £2.5bn is committed to the Charitable Trust to support victims of the war, with £1.75bn committed to investment directly into the club over the next 10 years.
“This is a British bid, for a British club. We believe that a club is bigger than its owners who are temporary custodians of a great tradition. With responsibility to the fans and the community.
“That is why we are committing to spending £1.75bn over 10 years that will be for the direct benefit of the club.
“We will invest in Stamford Bridge to make it a world-class stadium, befitting of Chelsea FC.
“This will be organic and ongoing so that we will not move away from the home of Chelsea and risk losing the support of loyal fans.”
Tuchel excited by Lampard meeting
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has revealed he is looking forward to finally meeting Frank Lampard when the Blues take on Everton on Sunday, and wants to thank him for the introduction he gave him to life at Stamford Bridge.
“He sent me a very kind, respectful message after I took over at Chelsea that meant a lot. I was a huge fan of him as a player, and he is – and will remain – a legend at our club,” said Tuchel at his press conference ahead of the weekend.
“We didn’t have the chance to go out for lunch, and then he took the chance to take charge of Everton. He took an assistant from us, Joe Edwards, too and we were not so happy! I’m just joking.
“We will meet some friendly faces [on Sunday] with Joe and Ashley Cole, and Frank, who I have never met in person.
“We need the points, and they need the points urgently as well. It is an exciting week for me personally. Everybody tells me about the atmosphere at Goodison Park, how emotional and how tough it is to play there.”
Breaking: Ratcliffe makes £4bn bid for Chelsea
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made a dramatic late bid to buy Chelsea, according to Matt Dickinson at The Times.
The British billionaire approached Raine Group this morning and submitted an offer in the area of £4billion.
The owner of petrochemicals giant, Ineos, met with Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck on Thursday to discuss the possibility of a bid for consideration.
“We put an offer in this morning,” Ratcliffe told The Times. “We are the only British bid. Our motives are simply to try and create a very fine club in London. We have no profit motive because we make our money in other ways.”.
Ratcliffe, a season ticket holder at Stamford Bridge, wishes to use £1.75bn of his offer in order to upgrade the team and stadium.
Winning bid announcement delayed again
The wait to learn the identity of the new Chelsea owners will go into next week after it was suggested that there is still some confusion as to the allocation of funds from the sale.
New York Times reporter Tariq Panja tweeted that government have been left frustrated and unsatisfied by the answers to some of their questions.
Credit: @tariqpanja Twitter Frank-ly depressing fixture for Toffees
Chelsea return to Premier League action on Sunday – and could strike a dagger through the heart of one of their favourite sons.
The Blues travel to Everton, now managed by their record goalscorer Frank Lampard, and anything less than a Toffees win will leave the Merseyside club in the relegation zone with five games to play.
Lampard will become the tenth former Chelsea manager to take charge of a Premier League match against the Blues, and the signs are not good for the 43-year-old.
Only one of the previous nine former Chelsea bosses has won their first such match (D1 L7),
The exception is Claudio Ranieri, who won 2-1 with Leicester in December 2015 on his way to winning the title with the Foxes.
Cottee: Rice would prefer Chelsea
Declan Rice’s preference would be to join Chelsea, according to one West Ham legend.
Tony Cottee believes that out of the top clubs tracking the Hammers captain, it is Stamford Bridge that is his most likely destination.
In a conversation with MyBettingSites, TC said: “I think if you honestly ask him the question, [Declan Rice] would probably prefer to go to Chelsea.
“Declan was at Chelsea as a youngster, left there at the age of fourteen to sign for West Ham.
“His best friend is Mason Mount, so there are lots of reasons for him to go to Chelsea.”
Breaking: Kerr named Footballer of the Year
Chelsea’s Sam Kerr has been named as the Football Writers’ Association as Women’s Footballer of the Year.
The Australian has struck 18 goals in 18 appearances in the WSL this season, helping her club to close in on the league title.
Former Blues player Mo Salah picked up the men’s award, the Liverpool ace winning it for the second time.
Madrid see James as Real deal
Real Madrid are at the front of a pack of European clubs hoping to land Chelsea star Reece James.
Nizaar Kinsella understands that the Spanish giants have already spoken to the player’s representatives about bringing the wing-back to the Bernabeu.
Naturally, the Blues hope to keep their England star happy at the Bridge, and are keen to extend his contract that currently runs until 2025.
However, James is one of the lowest-paid players at the clubs, and could well be tempted by a bumper deal with one of the biggest clubs in the game.
It is suggested that Real would prefer to do a deal for the defender in 2023 so as to concentrate on attacking areas this summer.
Boehly bid leading the charge
The bid headed by LA Dodgers owner Todd Boehly is in the lead to buy Chelsea.
Sources close to the consortium have told the Daily Mail that they expect their offer for the football club to be announced as the approved option in the coming days.
However, those involved with the rival bids of Sir Martin Broughton and Steve Pagliuca have not given up hope, and hope to convince Raine Group before a final decision is made.
It was revealed yesterday that the three bidders have been asked to stump up an extra £500million in order to help boost a £1billion charitable donation to be made upon the sale of the Stamford Bridge outfit.
Roy so keen on James
Former Manchester United star Roy Keane believes that Chelsea are lucky to have a player of Reece James’ ability.
The Irishman, speaking in his role as pundit for Sky Sports, revealed himself to be a huge fan of the defender following last night’s 1-1 draw between his former club and the Blues at Old Trafford.
“What a player Reece James is,” said Keane during the analysis of the game.
“He looks like a boxer. His distribution, movement, strength. He seems like a nice kid too. He’s a clever lad, could play in any position.
“Chelsea are a lucky club to have him. Outstanding.”
James picked up the Man of the Match award for his performance during the Premier League encounter.
Good morning Chelsea fans
Thomas Tuchel’s men played out a 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Marcos Alonso handed Chelsea the lead with a striker’s finish.
But Cristiano Ronaldo equalised minutes later to share the points.
Antonio Rudiger is edging closer to his Real Madrid free transfer with his medical being planned for the next few days, according to reports.
The Chelsea defender’s Stamford Bridge contract expires this summer.
And after Thomas Tuchel confirmed he would not be signing an extension, it is widely expected the centre-back will join Real for free.
Former Chelsea and Liverpool right-back Glen Johnson has said that Man Utd midfielder Paul Pogba doesn’t have “the character to suit either Liverpool or Chelsea.”
And finally, the three prospective owners of Chelsea have been asked to increase their offers by £500million by outgoing billionaire Roman Abramovich.
Martin Kleinman at Sky News reports that the Russian owner is demanding the additional money to help augment a £1billion charitable donation to be made upon the sale of the football club.
The increase in price effectively guarantees “a minimum headline price for the club of £2.5billion.”
Chelsea verdict
Chelsea suffered yet more dejavu as they dominated Manchester United but paid the price for lacking a goalscorer.
Kai Havertz, signed for over £70million from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020, missed two golden chances in the first half at Old Trafford.
The German is not an out and out striker but has led the line well at times for the Blues this season.
But his squandered chances in Manchester prove Chelsea are still being haunted by a lack of clinical finishing.
Last year’s Champions League winners might have thought they had solved that problem after signing Romelu Lukaku in the summer.
But the club-record £97.5million signing is edging towards a second flop spell at Stamford Bridge.
‘I hope Ten Hag is watching’
A deflated Gary Neville didn’t hold back in his assessment of Manchester United during their 1-1 draw with Chelsea.
The Red Devils legend tore into Ralf Rangnick’s flops, slamming the players as “embarrassing” despite the two teams sharing the points.
Neville blasted: “Man United are the type of team for any football fan watching that you almost want to get beat.
“They need beating, they set a really poor example around work ethic and trying – and all the things that parents and teachers tell their children every single day.”
Full time – Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea
It’s all over!
The points are shared in Manchester.
United did grow into the game in the second half and it was their main man who came to the rescue.
Chelsea will feel frustrated. They should have put the game to bed in the first 45 minutes.
Follow the live match blog HERE to follow all the post-match fallout
Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea
79, James hits the post!
The ball is fired into Mount who is aware and delicately flicks the ball on for James who curls the ball around the defender straight on to the post.
So, so close. De Gea was beaten.
Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea
74, Jorginho is on the deck receiving treatment after tweaking something.
Chance to take on some liquid for the others.
Meanwhile, Lukaku talks tactics with his boss.
Follow the live match blog HERE
Goals galore at Old Trafford
Chelsea took the lead in the 59th minute through Marcos Alonso.
The left-back turned in a striker’s finish.
But the Blues’ lead didn’t last long with the returning Cristiano Ronaldo scoring for the second game in a row.
1-1.
Kick-off – Manchester United 0-0 Chelsea
Fernandes gets this second half underway.
No changes for either side.
Will it be more of the same?
Follow the live match blog HERE
Half-time – Manchester United 0-0 Chelsea
Mike Dean blows his whistle and the players head for the dressing rooms.
Rangnick scratches his head. What do you say about that?
Chelsea have moved the ball well and created plenty of chances. But their forwards, Havertz in particular, haven’t been able to make them count.
Manchester United have been lifeless, but somehow find themselves still in the game.
Manchester United 0-0 Chelsea
21, Two chances for Chelsea, both coming down that right hand side.
Jorginho sprays a ball across the area, but no one was quick enough to get there.
Then Mount is freed before firing a ball across the box. But De Ge gets there before Havertz.
Follow the live match blog HERE
Manchester United 0-0 Chelsea
12, Rashford attempts to weave his way past Thiago Silva.
The chance looks to have gone, but he keeps the pressure on and wins the corner off the Brazilian.
The corner is headed back into the danger area where Ronaldo was waiting. He got up for the spectacular. But his bicycle kick doesn’t trouble Mendy in goal.
Almost, almost incredible.
Jesse Lingard dropped
Jesse Lingard has been dropped from Manchester United’s matchday squad for personal reasons just days after calling their dressing room a “disaster”.
Red Devils legend Paul Scholes recently let slip that Lingard told him about the sorry state of affairs behind the scenes at Old Trafford.
Interim boss Ralf Rangnick took a backhanded swipe at Lingard following Scholes’ confession.
And the German has now dropped the England international altogether for tonight’s clash with Chelsea at the Theatre of Dreams.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
