UK government happy with all four remaining contenders to buy Chelsea

The UK government is prepared to usher through Chelsea’s sale to any of the four shortlisted bidders, the PA news agency understands.

The remaining contenders to buy Chelsea must submit final offers for the Stamford Bridge club on April 14th.

New York merchant bank the Raine Group will then hope to present a preferred bidder to Downing Street in the week of April 18th.

The UK government must approve the eventual buyer, with the issuing of a new Treasury licence for the sale the final hurdle for Chelsea’s would-be new owners.

And sources close to the government have revealed Downing Street’s satisfaction in principle with all remaining parties in the battle to buy the Blues from Roman Abramovich.

Chelsea’s eventual new owners will have to satisfy the Premier League’s owners’ and directors’ tests before the government would be due to ratify the work done by Raine Group in examining the suitability of their preferred bidder.

A spokesperson for the British Department for Culture, Media and Sport said: “The Government has no role in establishing a preferred bidder for Chelsea Football Club.

“Assessments of owners and due diligence are a matter for the club and the Premier League, not the Government.

“Our role is to consider an application for an amended licence that authorises a sale of the club when it comes forward with a preferred bidder.”

The sale of the Stamford Bridge club could reach a sports franchise record £3 billion, with the destination of those funds yet to be determined. The sale proceeds could either be frozen, or diverted into a charitable foundation to aid victims of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

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