British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe is interested in buying Chelsea and has held exploratory talks over a potential takeover, according to the Times.
The newspaper claim that Britain’s richest man, who made his fortune through the petrochemicals company Ineos he founded, is thought to have a net wealth of £21billion.
Chelsea season ticket holder Ratcliffe is now exploring the possibility of replacing Roman Abramovich as the club’s owner although the Times report he will not meet the Russian oligarch’s £2.5billion price tag.
OPINION
Abramovich has become an increasingly distant figure due to problems with his visa and he has withdrawn plans to rebuild Stamford Bridge. But the possibility of the Russian billionaire cashing in his chips on the club he bought in 2003 for £17million has still felt fairly remote up until now. Sure, he is not seen in his box at Stamford Bridge as much these days, but 16 years of ownership and the lifelong gratitude of a fanbase whose dreams he has helped make come true means Chelsea without Roman head of the empire is still difficult to contemplate. According to the latest edition of Forbes, Abramovich’s net worth is £9.3billion, making him the richest person in Israel and the 11th-wealthiest in Russia. He is shaded by Ratcliffe in pure money terms, but that doesn’t mean Chelsea fans would regard the Brit as a potentially better owner. Abramovich never speaks publicly, but actions speak louder than words and four Premier League titles and a Champions League crown during his ownership says it all.