Roman Abramovich is looking for a buyer for the London club he has owned since 2003. The 2021 European champion was officially put up for sale on March 2nd.
So far, three candidates were still in the running according to English media outlets: Todd Boehly, Sir Martin Broughton, and Stephen Pagliuca.
Surprise at the last minute… A fourth name has emerged, and not just any name… As reported by The Times, Jim Ratcliffe has joined the race. He set his sights on OGC Nice, with the acquisition formalized in August 2019. Jim Ratcliffe intends to outbid his competitors at the last moment with a very substantial offer…: the head of Ineos, a petrochemical giant, will put a total of 4.25 billion pounds on the table, which is a little over 5 billion euros. 2.5 billion pounds to buy the club and 1.75 billion to be “invested directly into the club over the next decade,” assures the 69-year-old British businessman, who prides himself on offering “a British bid for a British club,” given that his adversaries are American.
The question remains what would happen to OGC Nice if Mr. Ratcliffe’s attempt to buy Chelsea proves successful. Just a satellite club of Chelsea? The sale of the Aiglons? Everything is open…
Breaking news: Chelsea to Wyss and Boehly for 4.7 billion euros
According to the “Wall Street Journal” and the Swiss portal “Blick,” the American-Swiss consortium has outperformed the competition.
The British government, not a minor detail, must approve the acquisition because the current owner, Roman Abramovich’s assets have been frozen following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
