Chelsea takeover battle takes new twist as LA Dodgers co-owners behind rival bids

The battle to buy Chelsea has taken yet another twist as two LA Dodgers co-owners will go head-to-head with bids to purchase the Premier League giants.

The reigning European champions were put on the market back in February following Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine. Current Blues owner Roman Abramovich, who is an alleged associate of Russian president Vladimir Putin, announced he intended to sell the west London club following the UK Government's decision to sanction him.

A special licence has enabled Chelsea to remain in operation, however various restrictions have hindered the club's ability to function properly over recent months. With a quick-fire sale targeted, countless consortiums have expressed an interest in purchasing the Blues and the list of potential buyers has been whittled down to four, however the takeover battle has now taken another twist.

Following the news that Peter Guber will form part of a consortium fronted by Boston Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca, two rivals LA Dodgers co-owners will go head-to-head as they back rival bids. Mark Walter, another member of the the Guggenheim Baseball Management group which own the Dodgers, is already part of Todd Boehly's consortium.

Walter, who himself only teamed up with Boehly five days ago, is CEO of the investment firm which has an estimated net worth of $340 billion (£261bn). The American billionaire’s group, who have already undertaken a visit to the club’s Cobham training complex, now face competition from a familiar face.

On Wednesday, it was revealed Walter's fellow Dodgers co-owner Guber will form part of Pagliuca's rival conglomerate. Boston Celtics co-owner announced Canadian sports teams' owner Larry Tanenbaum will be joining the bid