Chelsea news LIVE: Ricketts family join Sir Martin Broughton and Todd Boehly bids on final shortlist

Chelsea takeover: Latest updates as bidders for club set to be whittled down to shortlist of three

Roman Abramovich makes ‘incredibly difficult decision’ to sell Chelsea

The Ricketts family have made the shortlist in the bid to buy Chelsea. Raine Group finally informed the Chicago Cubs owners early on Friday afternoon New York time. The Ricketts were the third consortium to receive official confirmation of making the shortlist to buy the Blues, after the Todd Boehly bid and a rival offer led by Sir Martin Broughton. The Athletic is reporting there has been a fourth bid shortlisted, from Stephen Pagluica, owner of NBA team the Boston Celtics and Serie A side Atalanta.

While the sale of Chelsea continues the club have been given a boost after the UK government amended its special operating license. The alteration will now allow Chelsea to sell tickets to away matches, cup games and women’s fixtures provided the club does not receive any revenue. This means Chelsea fans will be able to attend the club’s Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid and FA Cup semi-final with Crystal Palace at Wembley. The Premier League have said the revenue generated by ticket sales, which would normally have gone to the club, will be donated to war victims in Ukraine.

The government will now also allow Chelsea to receive £30million from its parent company, Fordstam, to allow the club to remain afloat following the sanctioning of owner Roman Abramovich and while the Premier League side is sold.

Follow all the latest Chelsea takeover news below:

Chelsea takeover news

• Final three confirmed as Boehy, Broughton and Ricketts bids all shortlisted
• Saudi Media Group not included on shortlist of preferred Chelsea bidders
• Tickets and transfers: What Chelsea can and can’t do following under latest government licence
• Who will buy Chelsea? Takeover latest as potential new owners table bids to succeed Roman Abramovich
• Nick Candy bid fails to make shortlist, but Blue Football Consortium encouraged to speak to remaining bidders

[25 March 2022 08:13 · Jack Rathborn]

Johnson bid rejected by Raine Group

Sky News is reporting that Woody Johnson, owner of the New York Jets American football team, has been notified that his bid for the London club had been unsuccessful.

Sources close to several bidders confirmed that they had been told on Thursday by Raine Group, the bank handling the process, that they were not being shortlisted.

If confirmed, the rejection of Mr Johnson’s bid would eliminate one of the apparent early frontrunners to acquire the Stamford Bridge side.

Another one of the reported unsuccessful bidders was the Saudi Media Group.