Top 5 potential buyers of Chelsea FC (IN PICS)

Swiss billionaire Hansjoerg Wyss, who had expressed interest in purchasing Chelsea along with LA Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly, told Swiss newspaper Blick that he remained interested in a deal.

In a video on its website, Blick said Wyss told it he “remained interested in spite of the new circumstances”, after sanctions imposed against Abramovich put the sale process on hold.

Wyss, 86, made a large share of his fortune by selling med-tech company Synthes Holding AG to Johnson & Johnson in 2012 for nearly $20 billion.

Boehly previously considered making a takeover offer for Tottenham Hotspur in 2014 through Cain Hoy Enterprises, a U.S. private investment company, of which he is one of the founders.

Conservative peer Daniel Finkelstein said he was also a part of the bid.

“I’m passionate about Chelsea to the point of eccentricity,” Finkelstein wrote on Twitter. “I want owners who will invest but are also insightful and use modern methods to keep our club on top of the world. I believe Todd Boehly would be just such an owner.” 

The owners of U.S. baseball team the Chicago Cubs, the Ricketts family, have teamed up with Citadel founder Ken Griffin to work on a bid to buy Chelsea, a spokesperson for Griffin said.

They 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.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe has joined a consortium including former Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton that hopes to buy Chelsea.

“I am certain Sir Martin is the right man to lead Chelsea Football Club into its next chapter,” Coe said in a statement to British media.

British property developer Nick Candy, a Chelsea supporter since childhood, said he was interested in making a bid for the club.

Sky News reported a central part of Candy’s pitch to buy Chelsea was the proposal to offer a seat to fans on the board and he was in talks with financiers about joining his bid ahead of a deadline for offers at the end of the week.

He will also offer short-term funding if Chelsea face a cash crunch, the report added.

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.

Turkish businessman Muhsin Bayrak said his company was preparing to submit a bid for Chelsea, adding that he would need the blessing of sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich for any deal.

Bayrak said he had 1 billion pounds in cash available and could take out loans if a larger amount was needed.

Bayrak has interests in construction, energy and real estate and runs AB Grup Holding in Istanbul.