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takeover talk

Chelsea takeover latest: Britain’s richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe interested in Blues but put off by Roman Abramovich’s £2.5billion asking price

Ratcliffe has previously been linked with buying the west London club, and could return for the Blues after completing a takeover of Team Sky

Britain’s richest man has been put off buying Chelsea due to Roman Abramovich’s £2.5billion valuation of the Premier League club, according to reports.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the petrochemicals billionaire, remains interested in the Blues after allegedly failing with a bid to buy them last summer.

Ratcliffe was named Britain’s wealthiest man in The Sunday Times Rich List

Ratcliffe was named Britain’s wealthiest man in The Sunday Times Rich List

He is today (Tuesday) set to complete a takeover of Team Sky, with the cycling team to be renamed Team Ineos after the company he founded which made him a multi-billionaire.

Ratcliffe is understood to be worth £21billion, and he currently holds a Chelsea ticket despite growing up a Manchester United fan.

And The Times say the 66-year-old has looked into buying the Blues amid doubts over Abramovich’s long-term future as owner of the Stamford Bridge club.

Chelsea insist the club is not for sale, but Abramovich’s decision to put a redevelopment of their stadium on hold has led to questions about his growing detachment.


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Abramovich, who bought Chelsea in 2003, has also faced visa problems relating to the break down in relations between Britain and Russia, with the 52-year-old eventually getting an Israeli passport to ensure he remains able to legally visit England.

Nonetheless, Abramovich wants at least £2.5billion for a club into which he has injected much of his own wealth, and Ratcliffe is unwilling to match such a price due to Chelsea needing a new stadium and the investment that will come with that.