Goldman Sachs advising Boehly group on Chelsea bid as deadline passes

Goldman Sachs are advising a consortium led by LA Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly as four bids are confirmed to have been submitted for the purchase of Chelsea.

LA Dodgers part-owner Boehly, Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss and Jonathan Goldstein have backing in their bid from California-based investment firm Clearlake Capital, who have roughly $60 billion (£45.6 billion) of assets under management, and want to complete a takeover before Chelsea's next Premier League game against Brentford on April 2.

Times columnist and former Conservative government adviser Daniel Finkelstein and American PR legend Barbara Charone are also part of the consortium.

Sky Sports News has been told by sources close to the Boehly consortium they are hopeful they have the complete plan - and the speed - to win government approval and that of bankers Raine, who have already stressed the importance of a quick sale.

The group is also being advised by Goldman Sachs, the powerful Wall Street investment bank, according to Sky News' City Editor Mark Kleinman.

The addition of Goldman to Mr Boehly's bid is understood to have been disclosed in an offer letter sent to Raine on Friday.

While Goldman's involvement is limited at this stage to an advisory rather than financing role, its decision to work with Mr Boehly underlines its apparent status as one of the frontrunners to succeed Roman Abramovich as the Blues' owner.

Spokesmen for Goldman and Mr Boehly both declined to comment on Saturday.

Former Liverpool chairman Sir Martin Broughton is joined by the president of World Athletics Lord Sebastian Coe - both men are Chelsea season ticket holders - and have pledged to invest in players and facilities if successful.

They also said "all cash proceeds from