Roman Abramovich has already received several serious bids in the region of £3 billion to buy Chelsea, it has been reported.
Stamford Bridge chiefs are understood to still be at the stage of accepting bids for the west London club, according to the Press Association.
Further offers for the Champions League holders are expected amid high interest in one of the world’s most attractive and high-profile football assets.
Chelsea’s bosses and the team around the sale are expected to review the credible bids once all offers are submitted.
Russian-Israeli billionaire Abramovich pledged to follow due process in his sale when announcing his intention to end his 19-year ownership of Chelsea in a statement on Wednesday.
Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss has already publicly announced his intention to bid for Chelsea, and has USA business magnate Todd Boehly as the first major partner of a consortium that continues to take shape.
Blues owner Abramovich hopes to have a figure in the region of £2 billion to donate to a new charitable foundation that will be set up specifically to aid victims of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The sheer scale of such giving means Abramovich must set up a new body with the personnel and infrastructure capable of distributing funds to maximise the impact of aid for victims.
Abramovich vowed not to take any money out of the sale of Chelsea in his Wednesday statement. And it is understood that means all proceeds barring transaction costs will be ploughed into the new charitable foundation.
Abramovich took the decision to sell Chelsea on Wednesday after almost two decades at the helm and having led the Blues to 21 trophies during his tenure.
Chelsea ratings v Luton
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CHELSEA RATINGS: Kepa Arrizabalaga 5 - A bizarre few days continued as he found himself picking the ball out of the net inside two minutes as Reece Burke’s looping header had him rooted, and he was comfortably beaten by a fine Harry Cornick finish. AP -
Antonio Rudiger 6 - Very much the experienced head in the Chelsea back three, but you wouldn’t have known as the visitors were at sixes and sevens from the first whistle. Hammered an ambitious strike straight into Lukaku, but he was much better after the break. AFP -
Ruben Loftus-Cheek 7 - Looked out of his comfort zone and found himself on the wrong side of the impressive Burke as Luton threatened to add a second inside 10 minutes. More assured after the interval and he picked out Timo Werner with a fine pass the German made it 2-2. AP -
Malang Sarr 3 - Beaten to the ball by Burke who headed an excellent opener and he was punished for taking a needless risk when he tried to play the offside trap which presented Cornick with the hosts’ second and led to Sarr receiving a yellow card for dissent. AP -
Callum Hudson-Odoi 4 - Didn’t have much chance to influence the game as Chelsea’s success came through Saul and Mount. When he did try to play, he didn’t quite get enough on the return ball to Antonio Rudiger and Luton raced down the pitch to make it 2-1. Getty -
Jorginho 5 - Normally so assured, but the Italian failed to stamp his authority on the tie and Chelsea were completely take apart in the middle as Luton restored their lead with a brilliant counter. AP -
Saul Niguez 8 - Showed brilliant feet to skip away down the left only to shove his opponent to the ground and he was lucky to avoid a booking for blasting the ball away in frustration. He played some neat stuff though and levelled with a lovely finesse strike. AP -
Kenedy 7 – Almost turned the game on its head when he latched onto a loose ball and unleashed an absolute piledriver that was beaten away by Harry Isted. Kept chipping away and did well to recycle an overhit Rudiger cross as Chelsea started the second half brightly. Reuters -
Mason Mount 8 - Showed his quality for the first time when he picked out the run of Saul at the back post and he was involved again in the equaliser, feeding the intelligent run of Werner, before creating yet another chance when he pulled the ball back for Lukaku. AP -
Romelu Lukaku 7 - Forced yet another save from Isted when his low effort was tipped around the post, but he finally struck gold when he stabbed home after more good work from Werner. 15 goals for the season now for the Belgian. AFP -
Timo Werner 9 - Involved in every Chelsea goal. He produced an excellent run to pick up Mount’s pass and find Saul’s before making it 2-2 when he took the ball down and calmly rolled into the corner, and he completed a fine night’s work when he delivered for Lukaku to slide home. Reuters -
SUBS: Christian Pulisic (on for Kenedy, 62) 6 - A couple of runs in and around the Luton penalty area, but he didn’t really have much opportunity to make an impact. Getty -
Harvey Vale (on for Hudson-Odoi, 62) 6 - A fourth senior appearance for the 18-year-old who replaced the ineffective Hudon-Odoi. PA -
Reece James (on for Jorginho, 76) NR - Brought on to tighten things up. Survived a late handball shout and managed to hook the ball away to safety. AP
The Blues owner has made the decision in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
A number of high-profile politicians have called in Parliament for Abramovich to come under UK Government sanctions, amid claims of links to Russia’s political situation.
But the PA news agency understands Government organisations have been unable to prove reasonable grounds for sanctions against further Russian oligarchs.
Abramovich has always maintained he has acted wholly appropriately, and it is understood he has even been attempting to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.
After 19 years at Stamford Bridge and transforming the face of English football forever however, Abramovich’s time as Chelsea owner is close to an end.
Abramovich is understood to consider now the right time to sell Chelsea, in small part after completing the set of major global trophies when the Blues lifted the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi last month.
“Please know that this has been an incredibly difficult decision to make, and it pains me to part with the club in this manner. However, I do believe this is in the best interest of the club,” said Abramovich in his statement.
“It has been a privilege of a lifetime to be part of Chelsea FC and I am proud of all our joint achievements.”
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters welcomed Abramovich’s decision to put Chelsea up for sale.
Speaking at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit, Masters said: “I think the situation has escalated incredibly quickly over the last seven days and he’s come to the right conclusion.
“It’s unsustainable in the current environment. It’s a welcome decision and obviously, for the sake of everybody, including the fans, as soon as the sale process concludes everyone has certainty.”
Asked what would happen regarding the sale if Abramovich were sanctioned by the UK, Masters told the audience in London: “I don’t think that will work.
“I think the quickest (sale) we have ever done is 10 days, that’s not to say that record can’t be beaten but normally it takes a number of weeks.”
