With class owner Abramovich's deep Russian connections, the progress of a deal for Premier League powerhouse Chelsea is in the spotlight as rumors continue to swirl about a sale due to sanctions imposed by the British government. American billionaire Todd Boehly, one of the potential buyers, has recently appeared at Stamford Bridge to watch the game, winning praise from fans for his grounded style. Despite the fact that the sale has not yet been finalized, Chelsea's day-to-day operations are still being affected, with the players reportedly even having to raise their own funds to pay for the fuel for the team bus.
The news of Chelsea's sale has attracted the attention of investors from all over the world as soon as it broke. One of the main contenders to take over the London club is a consortium formed by Todd Boehly and Swiss businessman Weiss. Recently, the American businessman appeared in plain clothes on the streets of London and went to Stamford Bridge to watch Chelsea's 1-3 defeat to Real Madrid in the UEFA Europa League quarterfinals. Fans have taken to the internet to praise the tycoon's presence, saying that he is the ideal candidate for Chelsea's new boss.
Todd Boehly is no stranger to investing in the sports industry as the home owner of the MLB's Los Angeles Dodgers. Currently, in addition to the consortium he leads, a consortium of American businessmen, the Ricketts family, as well as a consortium led by former Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton, are also keenly interested in acquiring Chelsea.
However, with the outcome of the sell-off not yet clear, the sanction-affected Chelsea has been able to maintain only limited operations. Apart from frontline staff such as medical and physiotherapy staff, the club's sales, human resources and accounting departments have all suspended operations. According to Spanish media reports, although Chelsea's employees are still on the payroll, Chelsea can no longer afford other expenses due to the freezing of the club's accounts, and the players have to pay out of their own pockets to help the team pay for the fuel for the buses.
