Roman still has power to stop the sale of club

ROMAN ABRAMOVICH can still scupper the Chelsea sale with sources insisting that he does not want to accept a bid from a country that has sanctioned Russian oligarchs.

Abramovich, the Chelsea owner, will be able to influence the club’s sale despite having had his assets seized by the UK Government, sources have told The Mail on Sunday.

He has hired The Raine Group to sell the club and could veto bids from the United States and Britain because both countries have sanctioned oligarchs from his homeland in response to the war on Ukraine.

The development means Chelsea could yet end up in administration, as the highest remaining bid from outside the US and Europe is likely to be from the Saudi Media Group, who have reportedly tabled an offer of £2.66billion.

But with the Chancellor Rishi Sunak overseeing the process, the Government is unlikely to back a Saudi approach, given the recent backlash against Newcastle United’s sale to an investment fund linked to the Gulf nation’s rulers.

US businessman Todd Boehly has teamed up with Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss and British property developer Jonathan Goldstein, to lead one of the two major American bids for Chelsea. Their proposal appears to have gone a long way to reassuring the Government that they can do a quick deal. The Ricketts family, owners of the Chicago Cubs baseball team, also lodged a bid.

The Government could yet seize Chelsea, but even if a deal is agreed there would be questions around the proceeds, given it has said Abramovich would not receive any money.

Meanwhile, John Terry has entered the Chelsea ownership race by confirming he is fronting up a consortium looking to buy fans a ten-per-cent share in the club.

The former skipper and club legend is leading the True Blues Consortium, which plans to allow fans to buy a stake in the club for as little as £100.

Terry and former Chelsea women’s player Claire Rafferty have put their names to the consortium which has won the backing of Stamford Bridge freeholders, Chelsea Pitch Owners, and the club’s supporters’ trust.

‘Chelsea has been such an important part of my life for 22 years,’ said Terry. ‘I want to see the club’s history and heritage protected as we go into a new era with like-minded people who have the same long-term vision of building the best football club in the world and understand how important our DNA is.’