ROMAN ABRAMOVICH has reiterated his stance that he wants to sell Chelsea and has ordered his US bankers to get a deal done.
The future of the club was thrown into turmoil on Thursday when the Russian oligarch was named on a UK Government sanctions list amid his country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Roman Abramovich looks set to be forced to sell Chelsea – and not get a penny for it
Their brutal restrictions – including no new ticket sales or contracts – mean the club need to find a new buyer within two weeks or risk going into administration.
However, any sale will be overseen by the Government to ensure Abramovich does not get a penny.
SunSport rounds up the leading candidates to buy Chelsea…
NICK CANDY, 49, worth £840m
The avid Blues fan and property developer is talking to a number of American investors about forming a consortium to buy the West London outfit.
Nick Candy is a massive Chelsea fan and could be in the directors’ box with actress wife Holly
His £2.5bn proposal is said to include a £1.5bn plan for a rebuild of Stamford Bridge.
Candy is married to Australian actress Holly Valance, who rose to fame playing Felicity Scully in the soap Neighbours.
TODD BOEHLY, 46, £4bn & HANSJORG WYSS, 86, £4bn
Boehly is the current chairman and CEO of Eldridge Industries – a private investment firm based on the East Coast – and also owns the LA Lakers and LA Dodgers.
The philanthropist will be ready for the fight and tussle to win the bidding war having been part of his school wrestling team which won state tournament titles in 1990 and 1991.
Todd Boehly has experience in ownership of major sports clubs
Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss is the oldest bidder in the race
Swiss Wyss is the founder of Synthes USA, the world’s largest medical device manufacturer and made his money selling the company to Johnson & Johnson.
He was the first to go public with his interest and is the oldest contender at 86.
Boehly and Wyss would team up to spearhead a multi-investor consortium.
MUHSIN BAYRAK, 50, £8bn
A Turkish billionaire who made his money as Chairman of own company AB Group Holding, which has invested in tourism, cryptocurrency and construction.
It’s been reported that Abramovich flew to Turkey on a private plane earlier this week to meet Bayrak, who appears genuine in his interest of Chelsea.
Muhsin Bayrak has reportedly held talks with Abramovich
And he has said that he is in talks to buy the Blues, with negotiations well underway.
His first signing could be Leicester and Turkey defender Caglar Soyuncu.
JAMIE REUBEN, 34, £12bn
His dad and uncle may have bought a ten per cent stake in Newcastle last year and he was added to the board of directors.
But Jamie Reuben is a Chelsea fan and would relish the chance to take ownership.
Jamie Reuben, middle, comes from a family worth at least £12bn
But there would be a number of complications due to his mega-rich family’s interest and control at St James’ Park.
Reuben Jr is pals with Boris Johnson, Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton and Jamie Redknapp and owns a swanky £65m yacht, as you do.
BERNARD ANTWI BOASIAKO, 45, £100m
Bernard Antwi Boasiako launched arguably the most ambitious of the bids to buy Chelsea – but is hoping he can somehow strike gold.
The gold mine owner, radio station boss and politician is a big deal in Ghana.
But with a reported wealth of a mere £100m, that is unlikely to be enough to purchase the world champs.
Especially if he presses on with plans to sign Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Vinicius Jr.
Bernard Antwi Boasiako has ambitious hopes of buying Chelsea and world superstarss
THE OTHERS
Woody Johnson, owner of the New York Jets NFL team and Donald Trump pal, has been tipped as another would-be buyer, as has a private Saudi Media group.
Billionaire Josh Harris, a minority shareholder at Crystal Palace, has also been linked with a move to buy one of world football’s most fashionable teams.
Moneyball genius Billy Beane is part of a corporation eyeing up a bid.
The 59-year-old American made his name as a baseball player before turning his hand to business where he used his famous ‘Moneyball’ approach as general manager of Major League Baseball’s Oakland Athletics.
Javed Afridi is CEO of consumer electrics giants Haier Pakistan, and he also owns an automobile company.
The 36-year-old businessman already owns two cricket franchises – Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League, and Benoni Zalmi in the South African T20 Global League.
Michael Rubin, owner of sports merchandise group Fanatics, is thought to have been interested in bidding for the club.
His company Fanatics itself is claimed to be worth over £20bn – more than enough to satisfy Abramovich’s £3bn demands.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the UK’s richest person in 2018 made his billions as a chemical engineer turned financier and industrialist.
Although the Ineos chief is a Manchester United fan, he does hold a season ticket at Chelsea.
