The buyers ready to snap up Chelsea: Swiss billionaire, US baseball boss and British property tycoon all have their eyes on the West London football club

• March 15 had been deadline for Chelsea’s next owner to submit any final bids 
• But that could have all changed after Roman Abramovich was hit with sanctions 
• Oligarch facing renewed pressure to sell as list of suitors slims down to three
• Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss and his business partner Todd Boehly appear to be at the front of the queue, but property magnate Nick Candy could also bid

The list of prospective suitors for Chelsea FC continues to slim down as Roman Abramovich faces renewed pressure to sell the club after he was today hit with personal financial sanctions.

March 15 had been the initial deadline for Chelsea’s next owner to submit their final bids for the club, but that could be complicated following today’s announcement on Abramovich facing sanctions. 

Although the restrictions placed on the billionaire prevent him from receiving any funds from a prospective sale, a special ‘application for a licence to sell’ could be considered by the Government. 

The Russian tycoon would not be allowed to take any of the money from any prospective deal – with the club understood to be up for sale for around £3billion – with the destination of sale proceeds instead being determined by Downing Street.   

Abramovich has hired the Raine Group, an American merchant bank, to help oversee the sale. It is believed around 20 parties have expressed an interest but only a handful are deemed to be credible suitors.  

Three names now appear to be squarely at the front of the queue: Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss, his business partner Todd Boehly – who part owns the LA Dodgers – and British luxury property magnate Nick Candy. 

Roman Abramovich will not be allowed to sell Chelsea, while unprecedented extra measures have been taken to ensure he cannot profit from its activities

Abramovich has overseen the most successful period in Chelsea’s history, winning 21 trophies – including five Premier League titles and the Champions League twice 

Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss (left) and LA Dodgers owner Todd Boehly are understood to have made a firm bid for the club

British property tycoon Nick Candy has also confirmed his intention to lodge an offer to purchase Chelsea

Consortium led by Hansjorg Wyss and Todd Boehly 

The duo laid their cards on the table and made their offer on Tuesday but Abramovich is said to be reserving judgement until a full review of the bid has been made. 

At this moment in time, he isn’t sure if the duo are the right fit for Chelsea’s future. 

However, MailOnline understands talks remain at an advanced stage and they have already been submitted through New York-based bank Raine.

The pair had hoped that by publicly announcing their intention to buy the club early, and by lodging a formal offer last week, they would be able to effectively skip the queue of wealthy prospective buyers. 

Boehly is a businessman and part owner of the LA Dodgers baseball team, where he holds a 20 per cent stake. He tried to buy Chelsea three years ago with a £2.2bn bid.

Wyss, 86, is a Swiss billionaire who made his fortune in manufacturing medical equipment and devices and has a net worth of just under £5bn.

Tycoons Hansjorg Wyss (left) and Todd Boehly (right) have made an offer to buy Chelsea

All the early signs suggest that while the duo hold a genuine interest in Chelsea, Abramovich is unconvinced by the public nature of their interest and over their ability to move the club forward. 

He said he is selling Chelsea with a heavy heart and wants assurances from the next owner over their intentions.

But the oligarch’s position could have been changed by Thursday’s announcement of sanctions – with any deal being overseen by the Government who would determine where the sale proceeds end up. 

British property tycoon Nick Candy 

A new name in the running, after Sportsmail reported his interest on Tuesday night. 

Nick Candy, pictured with wife Holly Vallance, is a Chelsea season ticket holder and a lifelong fan of the club

A Chelsea fan himself and a long-term season-ticket holder, his interest comes alongside a £1.5bn plan to renovate Stamford Bridge, something which would tick the box of taking care of the club’s future which Abramovich wants to see in a prospective buyer.

The 49-year-old’s extensive portfolio of property development could also appeal to potential consortium investors given the need to improve Chelsea’s historic venue to increase matchday revenues.  

Stadium plans might particularly appeal to Abramovich, as well. 

It was something the oligarch looked into himself and was prepared to pay up to £2bn to modernise Stamford Bridge which he felt in turn would secure his Chelsea legacy.

What Chelsea now can and can’t do following sanctions on Abramovich

CAN 

• Play all their matches, home and away; 
• Pay the salaries of players and staff;  
• Provide stewards, security and food and drink for fans, subject to a £500,000 spending cap;
• Receive TV broadcasting revenues and prize money – although this will be frozen;  
• Club sale could potentially still go ahead, as long as Abramovich does not benefit financially.  

CAN’T 

• Sell tickets to home or away fans – only existing ticket holders will be allowed to attend; 
• Agree any new transfers or contracts; 
• Sell merchandise at the stadium or online; 
• Spend more than £20,000 on away travel;
• Carry out any building work on Stamford Bridge.  

Chelsea announced plans to build a 60,000-seater stadium on the same site in 2015 and received planning permission following a lengthy battle with local residents two years later. 

But the project was scrapped in 2018 after Abramovich’s visa renewal was blocked by the government in light of the Salisbury poisonings.

‘We are looking at what the art of the possible is,’ Candy told The Telegraph on Wednesday about his interest.

Candy and his younger brother Christian are British luxury-property developers, estimated to share a joint net worth of £1.5billion. 

Together they formed Candy & Candy, a property development company in 1999.. 

The brothers’ past high-profile projects include London’s One Hyde Park, NoHo Square and the redevelopment of the former Chelsea Barracks.

Candy will pour some of his own worth into the takeover but is also in talks with American investors about forming a consortium.

Candy is married to the actress and singer Holly Vallance and they have two children together.

A spokesperson for Candy told Sportsmail: ‘Mr Candy has a huge affinity with Chelsea. 

‘His father was asked to play for the club and he has been watching matches at Stamford Bridge since the age of four. 

‘The club deserves a world class stadium and infrastructure and Mr Candy’s unique expertise and background in real estate would be a hugely valuable asset to delivering this vision.’

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