Chelsea news: Saudi Media Group and Jets owner taken off the shortlist to buy the club
- Planet Sport writer
- 24 March 2022
Saudi bidders and York Jets owner Woody Johnson will not be considered as potential buyers for Chelsea, according to reports.
New York merchant bank the Raine Group are processing all of the potential buyers for the football club and the Saudi offer is believed to have been the first to have been rejected.
Mohamed Al Khereiji - a Chelsea supporter - was the face of the Saudi consortium's bid, but concerns over possible delays from the Premier League has contributed towards Raine's decision.
Despite Saudi Media separating itself from the Saudi Arabia state, the issues surrounding the takeover of Newcastle would have played a factor in Raine's move to turn away the consortium. New York Jets owner Woody Johnson has also been taken off the shortlist.
The UK government will look into the takeover alongside the Premier League.
Roman Abramovich put the club up for sale on March 2 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The billionaire was then sanctioned by the UK government eight days later, with Downing Street claiming to have found links between Ambramovic and Vladimir Putin.
The latest on the Saudi Media group bid. pic.twitter.com/qVfl23kZ9y
— Frank Khalid (@FrankKhalidUK) March 24, 2022
Chelsea are now being forced to operate under strict Government licence, with Abramovich stopped from any possible profit.
There has been huge interest in the club, with British tycoon Nick Candy hopeful of buying the club. An Elliott Management affiliate has backed Candy for the takeover and should he be successful, the US-based investor - which controls AC Milan - would have a 5% stake in the ownership.
Mr Candy said earlier in the week: "This remains a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to give football back to the fans and put them at the heart of the operations and strategy of Chelsea Football Club.
"We are committed to preserving the incredible legacy of the club and to promoting community involvement, and we can provide the financial stability to ensure the future growth of the club on the world stage."
Elsewhere, Los Angeles Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly. Chicago Cubs owners the Ricketts family and Lord Sebastian Coe have also displayed interest and placed respective bids.
