Chicago Cubs owners, former Chelsea hero Gianluca Vialli, in rival bids to buy English Premier League side
- Club was put up for sale by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, who has been sanctioned over his ties to Vladimir Putin
- Vialli is teaming up with British property developer Nick Candy, while World Athletics president Sebastian Coe is involved in third bid
The owners of US baseball team the Chicago Cubs have teamed up with Citadel founder Ken Griffin to work on a bid to buy English Premier League club Chelsea, a spokesman for Griffin said.
The Cubs’ owners, the Ricketts family and Griffin have formed an investment group which is set to make a formal offer for the London club on Friday.
Reuters has been told the bid does not involve Citadel, the hedge fund business, only Griffin. The Ricketts family said they would be leading the investment group making the bid.
“As long-time operators of an iconic professional sports team, the Ricketts Family and their partners understand the importance of investing for success on the pitch, while respecting the traditions of the club, the fans and the community,” the Ricketts family investor group said in a statement reported by the BBC.
Another interested bidder, Nick Candy, will be joined by a familiar face to Chelsea fans as former player and manager Gianluca Vialli said he was working with the British property developer on his proposal.
“I am proud and feel very privileged to support Mr Candy’s bid to buy Chelsea Football Club,” Vialli said in a statement, after it was announced the company he co-founded, Tifosy, will act as lead adviser for the process.
“I have met Nick Candy on a number of occasions over the last few weeks and I am fully behind his visions and commitment to make Chelsea the most globally recognised and supported club in the world, as well as maintaining the ongoing success on the pitch.”